Social Justice & Inclusion

SOCIAL JUSTICE & INCLUSION

The Boston University Department of Athletics' Social Justice & Inclusion Committee was created in July of 2020. The committee serves to raise awareness and enhance knowledge that encourages progress across all social justice issues by our student-athletes, staff, coaches and BU community. It will be tasked with conceptualizing, reviewing and implementing education, programming and community conversation opportunities for BU Athletics.

THREE PILLARS

Engage

We engage in the community and are mindful of the impact that we can have on others. We believe in the importance of dialogue, and in opportunities for our student-athletes and greater community to grow.
Advocate

We believe in empowering our coaches, staff, and student-athletes to advocate for causes that are important to them, as well as ones that have a profound impact on the community.
Educate

Our department strives to educate our coaches, staff, and student-athletes, as well as supporters of BU, around core areas of civil and social justice, LGBTQIA+, and diversity & inclusion to be good Samaritans of the BU community and beyond. Learn more.

COMMITTEE WORK

BU Athletics Social Justice & Inclusion Committee:
The Boston University Department of Athletics' Social Justice & Inclusion Committee was created in July of 2020. The committee serves to raise awareness and enhance knowledge that encourages progress across all social justice issues by our student-athletes, staff, coaches and BU community. It will be tasked with conceptualizing, reviewing and implementing education, programming and community conversation opportunities for BU Athletics.

Patriot League Anti Racism Commission:
The Commission is grounded in the Patriot League’s mission of preparing student-athletes to become leaders and make meaningful contributions to society in addition to its commitment in ensuring fairness, equitable opportunities, benefits and resources through the athletics departments of its member institutions.

BU Members:

Nick Bates, Director of The Howard Thurman Center for Common Ground
Kristie Bowers, Senior Associate Director of Athletics
Emily Catlett, Women’s Track and Field
Melissa Graves, Women’s Basketball Head Coach
Joe Jones, Men’s Basketball Head Coach
Dr. Natalie McKnight, Dean of the College of General Studies
Eitan Rosen, Men’s Soccer
Dr. Harvey Young, Dean of the College of Fine Arts

Patriot League Student-Athletes of Color Leadership Council:
The goal for this Patriot League Student-Athletes of Color Leadership Council is to establish cohesion, share best practices and develop League-wide student-athlete programming.

BU Members:

Tyesha Williams, Softball

RECENT INITIATIVES

Be Counted. Be Heard. BU.

In the fall of 2020, the BU Athletics community spearheaded a non-partisan effort to empower teams and the community to participate in the 2020 Census and Presidential Election. Learn more.
Pride Week

An annual campaign led by Athlete Ally, Pride Week 2021 took place in February and was celebrated with various online panels and events. Learn more.
Let's Chat with SAOC

In celebration of Black History Month in 2021, “Let’s Chat” with BU Student-Athletes of Color (SAOC) gathered student-athletes from various teams to chat about race, reflection, education and more, in hopes of creating a space for dialogue and learning across our community. Learn more.