Alvarez, UW committing to diversity
of Wisconsin Director of Athletics Barry Alvarez delivered a statement Wednesday on his program's commitment to diversity, responding to an open letter signed by past and present athletes through Change.org.
“I would like to begin by saying that BLACK LIVES MATTER,” Alvarez said in the page-long statement.
Alvarez also made an initial statement less than two weeks ago in the wake of protests around the country responding to the death of Minneapolis man George Floyd while in police custody. Alvarez reiterated that it's the athletic department's job “to make sure that voices are heard and support is provided to everyone in our athletics family.”
“UW Athletics' commitment to leading change will live beyond the tragedy and pain of these past few weeks,” Alvarez said. “As our student-athletes wrote, ‘we have a duty to step up and lean into challenges, not shy away from them. Change is not easy but it is important, and it starts with us.'”
Alvarez pointed to the school's decision in 2016 to add a Director of Diversity and Inclusion, a position currently held by Sheridan Blanford.
“It was an important step for the derez partment and there are now two assistants to the director of that unit,” AlvaUniversity said. “In January, former Badger student-athlete Michael Jackson was added to our senior administration team and given oversight of all of our diversity and inclusion efforts.”
Alvarez also pointed to the Equity Diversity Council, involving many current and former UW student-athletes and staff, as well as community members.
“In addition, Michael and Sheridan have been working for several weeks now on a strategic plan designed to further move UW Athletics forward in terms of diversity and inclusion-related initiatives.”
Alvarez acknowledged the important step was “turn our strategic plans into strategic actions.”
“Change will come when each of us looks within ourselves and decides to act. I ask our current and former student-athletes, as well as our coaches, staff and community members, to hold each other — and our department — accountable for creating change.
“I was a college student-athlete in the 1960s. Change happened then, but we are still dealing with many of the same issues 50 years later. We have another opportunity now. Let's work together to make sure we don't waste it.”