{"id":3553,"date":"2021-11-09T20:25:00","date_gmt":"2021-11-09T20:25:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/?p=3553"},"modified":"2025-03-21T09:24:26","modified_gmt":"2025-03-21T13:24:26","slug":"powerful-words-from-student-athletes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/2021\/11\/09\/powerful-words-from-student-athletes\/","title":{"rendered":"Powerful Words from Student-Athletes"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading3553_bcea81-44, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading3553_bcea81-44[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading3553_bcea81-44\"]{display:block;padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-md, 2rem);text-align:center;font-size:var(--global-kb-font-size-sm, 0.9rem);font-weight:400;font-style:italic;font-family:proxima-nova;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading3553_bcea81-44 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading3553_bcea81-44[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading3553_bcea81-44\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading3553_bcea81-44 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading3553_bcea81-44[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading3553_bcea81-44\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<span class=\"kt-adv-heading3553_bcea81-44 wu-subheading wp-block-kadence-advancedheading has-kb-palette-14-color has-text-color\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading3553_bcea81-44\">Viviana Caama\u00f1o<\/span>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-column3553_ba9475-95 > .kt-inside-inner-col{padding-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-lg, 3rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-lg, 3rem);padding-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-lg, 3rem);}.kadence-column3553_ba9475-95 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column3553_ba9475-95 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column3553_ba9475-95 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column3553_ba9475-95 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column3553_ba9475-95 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column3553_ba9475-95 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column3553_ba9475-95{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column3553_ba9475-95 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 991px){.kadence-column3553_ba9475-95 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column3553_ba9475-95 dynamic-main-col\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading3553_158f47-d2, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading3553_158f47-d2[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading3553_158f47-d2\"]{font-size:1.5rem;line-height:1.2;font-weight:500;font-style:italic;font-family:proxima-nova;color:#808080;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading3553_158f47-d2 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading3553_158f47-d2[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading3553_158f47-d2\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading3553_158f47-d2 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading3553_158f47-d2[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading3553_158f47-d2\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<p class=\"kt-adv-heading3553_158f47-d2 wu-subheading wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading3553_158f47-d2\">Support. Family. Educate. Care. Team. Leaders. Express. Speak. Listen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Wilmington University staff, faculty, and students will be seeing those words in various formats and venues this fall. They are among the most prominent elements in a word cloud created by the Student-Athlete Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advisory Council.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Formed early this year, the council is made up of 14 student-athletes and three advisors: Dr. Jason James, assistant professor in the College of Business and head of Athletics Diversity and Inclusion; Director of Athletics Dr. Stefanie Whitby; and Faculty Athletic Representative Dr. Matt Wilson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The council grew out of interviews with University coaches and focus groups with student-athletes that were set up to introduce Dr. James to the school\u2019s athletic community. The discussions centered on race and justice as they relate to sports, but it soon became apparent that the coaches and the student-athletes, reflecting events occurring around the U.S., were concerned about those values as they related to society as a whole.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Says Dr. James: \u201cThey presented a real want and need to continue to drive forward around DE&amp;I tenets throughout athletics at WilmU, so we were looking for a sustainable mechanism to keep the student-athletes engaged.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr. Wilson says the virtual meetings that led to formation of the council amounted to an educational experience for everyone, including the advisors. \u201cWhat was really powerful for me was learning about the different perspectives that people have,\u201d he says. \u201cIt was one of the most meaningful, raw conversations that I\u2019ve had \u00ad\u2014 in a good way. I walked away with a greater appreciation for everyone in WilmU\u2019s athletic community. These are the kind of conversations and environment that we need to build throughout society in general.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Three women were chosen as co-captains of the council: Viviana Caama\u00f1o, Kiersten Comer, and Angel Oliver. All seniors this year, they represent three sports and three ethnicities: Caama\u00f1o, a soccer player and hammer thrower, is Hispanic; Comer, who is white, plays softball; Oliver, an African American, is on the volleyball team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Says Caama\u00f1o, whose father was born and raised in Spain: \u201cI felt personally obligated to step forward and be a part of the council, not only as a Hispanic woman but also as someone who has empathy for the African American community and other communities that are affected by racial injustice.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The three captains are especially happy with the word cloud. \u201cIt\u2019s a start toward change,\u201d says Oliver. \u201cIt\u2019s what we\u2019re trying to be, to embody and convey to everyone else. It says, \u2018This is what our culture is like.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The idea for the word cloud came to Dr. Whitby as she was going over the copious notes that she took at the council meetings. \u201cI picked out the core words that were used when they discussed these difficult topics, and I gave those to our Sports Information coordinator, Dan Lauletta, and he put them into our WilmU logo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She then showed the artwork to the council \u2014 \u201cbecause it truly was their words\u201d \u2014 and they enthusiastically endorsed it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe thought this would be a good way to brand the work that we have done and to use it as a stepping off point for future work,\u201d says Dr. Whitby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The word cloud is now on stickers that were distributed to members of spring sports teams, and it appears on the large digital screen at the entrance to the Athletics Complex. Plans are to have T-shirts with the artwork ready for all student-athletes when they return this fall.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kb-image3553_f85d46-dd.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .kb-image3553_f85d46-dd .kb-image-is-ratio-size{max-width:350px;width:100%;}.wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image3553_f85d46-dd.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image3553_f85d46-dd .kb-image-is-ratio-size{align-self:unset;}.kb-image3553_f85d46-dd figure{max-width:350px;}.kb-image3553_f85d46-dd .image-is-svg, .kb-image3553_f85d46-dd .image-is-svg img{width:100%;}.kb-image3553_f85d46-dd .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image3553_f85d46-dd\"><figure class=\"alignleft size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"670\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Kiersten-Comer-670x480.jpg\" alt=\"Kiersten Comer\" class=\"kb-img wp-image-3559\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Kiersten-Comer-670x480.jpg 670w, https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Kiersten-Comer-250x179.jpg 250w, https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Kiersten-Comer-768x550.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Kiersten-Comer.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 670px) 100vw, 670px\" \/><figcaption><em>Kiersten Comer<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Other ideas are quickly forming. \u201cMaybe each month the council will take one of the words and use that as a focus for education that month,\u201d says Dr. Whitby. \u201cSupport, for instance. How can we better support those around us when it comes to these issues? Maybe we\u2019ll bring in some speakers to talk about racial injustice and how we can make a better environment at WilmU and in the community.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In general, she says, \u201cWe\u2019re going to look for unique ways to continue this conversation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As one of the co-captains, Comer found that the council came together&nbsp;despite the challenges presented by the pandemic. \u201cCollaborating&nbsp;on ideas via Zoom for the past year hasn\u2019t been easy,\u201d she says, \u201cbut I am proud of our dedication to something that is so much larger than all of us. My biggest hope for the council is that it becomes well-known at Wilmington University, and that our message of acceptance and equity is promoted university-wide, and that the students and faculty alike know that they are at a university that cares about them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>\u2014Bob Yearick<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Viviana Caama\u00f1o Support. Family. Educate. Care. Team. Leaders. Express. Speak. Listen. Wilmington University staff, faculty, and students will be seeing those words in various formats&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":3558,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[135,143],"tags":[626],"class_list":["post-3553","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-magazine","category-sports","tag-magazine-fall-2021"],"acf":[],"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":135,"label":"MAGAZINE"},{"value":143,"label":"SPORTS"}],"post_tag":[{"value":626,"label":"Magazine Fall 2021"}]},"featured_image_src_large":["https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Viviana-Caamano-587x480.jpg",587,480,true],"author_info":{"display_name":"Rachel Marchione","author_link":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/author\/rachel\/"},"comment_info":0,"category_info":[{"term_id":135,"name":"MAGAZINE","slug":"magazine","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":692,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":431,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":135,"category_count":431,"category_description":"","cat_name":"MAGAZINE","category_nicename":"magazine","category_parent":0},{"term_id":143,"name":"SPORTS","slug":"sports","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":700,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":36,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":143,"category_count":36,"category_description":"","cat_name":"SPORTS","category_nicename":"sports","category_parent":0}],"tag_info":[{"term_id":626,"name":"Magazine Fall 2021","slug":"magazine-fall-2021","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1183,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":23,"filter":"raw"}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3553","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3553"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3553\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17383,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3553\/revisions\/17383"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3558"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3553"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3553"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3553"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}