MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) – Kansas State soccer players canceled a threatened boycott in response to a callous student tweet about the death of George Floyd.
© Provided by the Associated Press
FILE – In this Nov. 16, 2019, file photo, Kansas State head coach Chris Klieman warms up his team before an NCAA college football game against West Virginia in Manhattan, Kansas. Kansas State soccer players say they will boycott all team activities until administrators create a policy that allows a student to be expelled for “overtly racist, threatening, or disrespectful actions.” The move that most players announced on social media Saturday follows a student tweet about George Floyd’s death that sparked outrage on campus. On Sunday, June 28, 2020, coach Chris Klieman tweeted his support: “Racism is NOT welcome on KSTATE now or in the future. … I am excited to help each player unite for the solution NOW, so that we can unite stronger than ever. Black Lives Matter. “(AP Photo / Orlin Wagner, file)
The decision, announced on social media by multiple players, follows the school’s moves to address diversity concerns.
“We appreciate the diligent work of our university and the athletics administration as we work on these important issues,” according to the letter posted on Twitter. “The plans and action items released Wednesday are great first steps in our goal of defeating hate and racism on our campus, and therefore we have decided to retrain with our teammates.
“However, we know that this process is far from complete, and if it slows down or slows down for whatever reason, we would reevaluate the situation and our options at that time.”
The Kansas State players are not currently participating in any practice or training because the team’s activities were suspended earlier this month after a coronavirus outbreak within the team. Summer training is expected to resume on July 13.
Last week, a month after Floyd’s death when a white Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee to the handcuffed black man’s neck, Kansas State student Jaden McNeil tweeted, “Congratulations to George Floyd for being free of drugs for a whole month! “
Several football players immediately threatened to boycott if the university refused to take action, and basketball players and other athletes soon joined the initiative. On Saturday, the soccer team released a formal statement calling on university president Richard Myers and other administrative staff to make significant changes to campus culture.
The school responded Wednesday by launching a diversity and education fund. Among other initiatives, the state of Kansas also promised that athletes, coaches and staff would undergo mandatory diversity and inclusion training that includes monthly town hall sessions; redouble efforts to recruit candidates from various backgrounds for staff and coaching positions; use home games to support the Black Lives Matter movement; highlight Black History Month; and provide transportation for athletes to polling places on Election Day.
“The university is committed to developing meaningful and measurable action plans with concrete steps,” Myers wrote in an open letter on Wednesday. “These proposed steps take into account the reality that, as a government entity, we must operate within the law. There have been many calls for us to expel a student who posted racist messages on social media, and while these messages are disrespectful and abhorrent, we cannot violate the law. “
Soccer coach Chris Klieman, who is entering his second season, said he supported his players and that “I am excited to help all players come together for the solution now so that we can come together stronger than ever.” Black lives matter.
___
More AP College Football: https://apnews.com/Collegefootball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25
Gallery: 8 changes that have happened since the Black Lives Matter (Best Life) protests began
Keep reading
