OF NOTE:
Last week, our campus faculty and staff received a communication from the Chancellor's office with updates on the status of the campus budget and recommendations from the Budget Advisory Committee (BAC). Part of the BAC's recommendations included a suggested recommendation on the elimination of our Athletics program. In keeping with our push to #KEEPUCRATHLETICS, we are sharing even more stories about our student-athletes and individuals connected to UCR and how their lives have been positively impacted by UCR Athletics.
 
 
RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Earlier this summer, UC Riverside Athletics announced the creation of Highlanders Speak Up for Humanity, an engaging series of conversations, lectures and workshops, designed to empower student-athletes, staff and coaches while providing a safe space where voices can be heard and plans can be created to address concerns surrounding the challenging times the nation is currently facing. 
 
The series was announced in mid-June following the murder of George Floyd with a Zoom session led by student-athletes that focused on the impact of anti-Black racism locally and nationally. Recently, the balance of programming for the 2020-21 academic year was completed and this year's Highlanders Speak Up for Humanity series will include meetings with campus partners and outside experts to discuss topics with student-athletes, coaches and staff members.

"Our Highlanders Speak Up for Humanity forum was created for our Athletics Department to have real, substantive engagement on the societal issues impacting us and provide each of us with an opportunity to do our part and take care of one another while working together to support our student-athletes," stated Director of Athletics, Tamica Smith Jones. "Being able to find safe spaces so we can have the conversations we need to have, find the actions we can take and the solutions we can create, is critical. Highlanders Speak Up for Humanity provides this opportunity for our community and key stakeholder groups to do this while acknowledging the diversity of our campus and teams when discussing these issues and how we might be able to activate the change we want to see."
 
Topics that will be addressed include: implicit bias, microaggressions, bystander and sensitivity training; the University of California's Principles of Community; racial/gender/sexual orientation bias and discrimination in sports; and best practices for creating and maintaining and inclusive environment. In addition, guest lecturers will talk about the history of racism in the United States, how to best communicate with coaches and professors, maintaining an inclusive environment, and emotional intelligence. 
 
HIGHLANDERS SPEAK UP FOR HUMANITY:
SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES
 
Starting the Conversation: June 2020 
Zoom calls on anti-Black racism with student-athletes, coaches and staff
 
Sessions to take place between September 2020 – June 2021
 
Session 1:      Implicit Bias Training
Focus on bias, microaggressions, sensitivity and review UC Principles
of Community.

• Racial Bias and Discrimination Affecting Student Athletes and Professional Athletes
• Gender Bias and Discrimination Affecting Women in Sports
• Gender and Sexual Orientation Bias And Discrimination Affecting LGBT Athletes
• Best Practices for Creating and Maintaining an Inclusive Environment
• Basic vocabulary, inclusive language (terminology, acceptability), microaggressions
• Bystander Training

 
Session 2:      Guest Speaker, Dr. Derek Greenfield
 
Session 3:      History of Racism in the United States
 
Session 4:      Communication Part I: How to Properly Communicate with Coaches and Professors
 
Session 5:      Communication Part II: Basic Vocabulary, Inclusive Language (Terminology, Acceptability), Microaggressions
 
Session 6:      Emotional Intelligence