Kansas State football fans can finally breathe out. The Wildcats have officially ended their protest of the program.
Last week, a tweet from a K-State student who was described as “nasty” by athletic director Gene Taylor appeared online. The tweet resulted in the K-State soccer team coming out and saying they would no longer participate in the team’s activities until their demands were met.
Following K-State’s announcement Wednesday of a new Diversity and Inclusion plan, the players have decided to officially end the boycott. The announcement was tweeted in a graphic posted by quarterback Skylar Thompson and other players.
“We appreciate the diligent work of our university and the athletics administration as we work on these important issues,” the statement said. “The plans and action items released on Wednesday are excellent first steps in our goal of defeating hate and racism on our campus, and therefore we have decided to return to practice 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. ”
These are the highlights of the Diversity and Inclusion plan, which K-State calls “a pillar of its Strategic Plan,” as K-State continues to identify new activation steps as a way to increase its programming and awareness of justice. social for all students. athletes, coaches and staff:
The 2020-21 academic year provides the department with a unique opportunity surrounding national social unrest, and with input and guidance from student-athletes, coaches, and staff, has identified the following elements as focal points for continued progress :
- Launch the Diversity and Inclusion Fund which enables K-Staters to directly support department-wide initiatives that actively seek an inclusive and diverse community through educational programming and the support of all student athletes, coaches, and staff.
- Student-athlete participation in the Ad Hoc Board with SGA and Administration in the Student Code of Conduct.
- Mandatory Diversity and Inclusion training for student athletes, coaches and staff and the holding of monthly diversity and inclusion sessions at the town hall with student athletes.
- Remain diligent in efforts to recruit a broad pool of applicants for department staff and coaching positions, including using department staff and national resources to create diverse recruitment groups.
- Play home games in all sports to support the Black Lives Matter movement.
- Create more opportunities for all sports to foster relationships and communication among all student athletes and coaches.
- Find new ways to show Black History Month and highlight black student athletes through the department’s communication channels.
- Partner with the Black Student Union for more programming and educational opportunities and with campus police and RCPD to build better relationships.
- Hold voter registration and education sessions for all student athletes and provide transportation to the polls on Election Day.
- Men’s basketball, in concert with all other Big 12 men’s basketball programs, will use November 3 as an official day off to participate as a voter.
“We will not defend social injustice,” K-State Sports Director Gene Taylor said in a prepared statement. “Now is the time to build on the Diversity and Inclusion program that we launched two years ago and advance further in the areas of racial injustice and racism. I am very proud of our student athletes, coaches, and staff for working together on these steps and I know that our department and the University will continue to evolve and grow tremendously. ”
Of course, the team’s return to activities is still on hold since the end of school due to the coronavirus pandemic. Multiple K-State student-athletes tested positive for the coronavirus, causing the team to shut down for the time being. Players are expected to return to campus and retest this month.
Mr. Scott Fritchen of GoPowercat.com contributed to this report.
