By Jake Henning
Sports Editor
FGCU Athletics put out a statement earlier today acknowledging the racial inequalities in our country, while expressing how they’re planning to combat those issues within the department.
Athletics Director Ken Kavanagh spoke on the issue, saying “I look forward to working with our terrific student-athletes, staff, alums and supporters to generate sustainable results.”
The statement read :
“Over the past 36 hours, several former student-athletes openly shared concerns about the FGCU Department of Athletics position on current events affecting our society. These are times of hard conversations, listening and taking action that will benefit us all along with our communities. As a department, we are proud of the diversity that makes up Eagles athletics. We are working collectively to examine what eagles can do to move past any bias to make our society more safe, just, and equal for all. To be unequivocally clear, Black Lives Matter to us and we are committed to demonstrate respect and care for our minority student athletes and staff while conveying that they are valued, respected and heard. We will share what we have undertaken over the last few months and the action plan that we will bring forward in the near future. These actions will both be visible and sustainable for our alumni, we welcome your feedback and ask you to engage in these conversations with us. This is not an issue that will be solved in a day nor are these issues that will be solved by individuals. It will take us all being committed for the long term to make the change necessary to realize true equality in this nation we all love dearly. Overall we aspire to fulfill the words of one-time FGCU guest speaker and iconic poet, memoirist, and civil rights leader the late Maya Angelou: “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” We will do better.
The statement can be found of FGCU Athletics’ Twitter account: @FGCUEagles