The Bates College Athletic Department, through the work of students, staff, and coaches, launched two new groups this summer — the Bates Athletes of Color Coalition and Bates Athletics Agents of Change.

The Bates Athletes of Color Coalition serves as a safe place and a means of support for people of color within the department to meet regularly for support, conversation and discussion.

The Bates Athletics Agents of Change, is committed to creating and maintaining an equitable and inclusive athletic experience for all athletic department members and student-athletes. 

"We need to listen and elevate the voices of our marginalized student-athletes and colleagues. We must educate ourselves without putting the burden on our BIPOC community," said Bates Director of Athletics Jason Fein. "As a community, we must recommit ourselves to the urgent work of racial equity and antiracism. To our BIPOC student-athletes, we see you, and we will do better."

He added, "Our department is committed to being better and doing better together. Launching these groups is one piece of an ongoing commitment to improving the quality of our community. They will help us continue to engage in meaningful discussions, as well as make our community a place in which our students and colleagues can feel welcomed in their environments every day, not just at the beginning of their time with us. We want to ensure that we continue to educate one another and do this work."

The two new groups comprise student-athletes, coaches, and staff who are passionate about equity and inclusion, committed to improving the experience of future Bates athletes, and eager to foster an environment where everyone feels safe and empowered to be their full, authentic selves.

Senior David Akinyemi, a physics major and member of the men's basketball team, and sophomore Mariam Josyula, a member of the women's soccer team who plans to major in neuroscience, are founding members of both groups.

"No one should feel put down or inferior because of their skin color," said Josyula. "If we can start taking action at Bates to further educate students and employees, that would be a good first step to help make Bates a more inclusive place for everyone."

"I want student-athletes to have an experience that is better than mine where they aren't faced with racial bias, microaggressions and belittlement," said Akinyemi. "I want them to have an experience where they are treated with dignity and respect, not only as an athlete but as a person of color at Bates."

Akinyemi described his hope for the Bates Athletes of Color Coalition to be "a safe haven, full of support, resources and nourishment for each student athlete of color on campus." Looking ahead, he hopes to extend its reach. "I hope that these connections can extend beyond Bates and connect to alumni as well, giving student-athletes of color training and expertise of navigating the work world after Bates."

Head football coach Malik Hall has taken on the role of organizing the Bates Athletes of Color Coalition meetings and opening the platform for student-athletes. 

"It was important to me to ensure that this space exists for our student-athletes," said Hall. "It is crucial for there to be a space to hear their concerns, to give them a platform to make change and to come together. It also has been a joy for me personally to build relationships with student-athletes in our department outside of my own team."

The Bates Athletics Agents of Change will assess the current climate of the athletic department and analyze those findings while also working to define, develop, and prioritize recommendations for action related to equity and inclusion for the athletics department Bates Athletics Agents of Change will collaborate with groups within the athletics department such as the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and the Bates Athletes of Color Coalition, as well as offices across campus like the Office of Intercultural Education, the Harward Center, the Office of Title IX and Civil Rights Compliance, and Admissions.

Currently comprising 17 student-athletes, four coaches, and four staff members, Bates Athletics Agents of Change has five subcommittees: assessment; communications and promotions; programming and civic engagement; recruitment and retention; and training and education.

Senior Quinn Kiernat, a double major in economics and politics and a member of the men's soccer team, emphasized that the responsibility to dismantle racist structures must be borne by all members of the Bates community and that change must be sustainable.

"It seems like the media spotlight has slowly disappeared, so continuing the work now is crucial," he said. "I got involved with Bates Athletics Agents of Change because in order for Bates as a whole to achieve greater equity, the various subsections like Bates Athletics need to take responsibility for their areas. I am a white man, and with that being said I think promoting my peers who have been doing this work for far longer than I have is important."

"Athletes have long been leaders in the fight for social change — and this year has certainly been no exception," said Assistant Athletic Director Student-Athlete Services and Internal Operations Jess Duff. 

"I am proud of our student-athletes who are dedicated to positive change and leaving behind a legacy for future Bobcats. The formation of an athletics centric group focused on social justice is long overdue, but we are committed as a department to ongoing and sustained education, dialogue, programming and assessment."