In coordination with the NCAA Diversity & Inclusion Week, Western Illinois Athletics proudly announces its upcoming events.
The Diversity and Inclusion Social Media Campaign is a week of awareness, education, and engagement, showing the importance of inclusive environments in college sports.
October 27 - "My Story Matters": exploring student-athletes' identities, perspectives, and experiences.
WIU Athletics is partnering with the WIU Multicultural Center to have a virtual discussion on how identities, perspectives, and experiences shape an individual's personal experience. To join the virtual discussion, respond to the question "What makes you uniquely you?" using the hashtag #MLX20 (my life experience, 2020)
October 28 - "I've Got Your Back": showcasing student-athletes supporting each other to foster inclusive environments.
The Multicultural Center, home of the Gwendolyn Brooks Cultural Center, Casa Latina, the Women's Center, and the LGBT*QA Resource Center, aims to advance educational, social, and cultural awareness.
To learn more about the MCC, click here. Below is a list of upcoming events!
October 30 - Dia de Los Muertos (6 - 8 p.m.)
November 6 - Feel Good Friday (12 - 4 p.m.)
November 11 - Good Vibes - Film: Antebellum (6 - 10 p.m.)
November 17 - What's the T? (12:30 - 1:30 p.m.)
November 18 - Wednesday with the Women's Center (11 a.m. - 2 p.m.)
November 20 - Trans* Day of Remembrance (4:30 - 6 p.m.)
The WIU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and Black Athlete Association will also be presenting ideas on initiatives that foster inclusivity within athletics.
October 29 - "Together We Rise": outlining personal action steps to inclusive excellence and celebrating collaboration across the campus community.
MLK SCHOLARSHIP
Western Illinois Athletics and the WIU Multicultural Center have collaborated to celebrate commitment to service in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The MLK Service Scholarship will be awarded to two Western Illinois students who embody and exemplify the characteristics promoted by Dr. King - a vision of peace, persistence in purpose, and inspirational action, as well as sportsmanship either within or outside the WIU communities.
Each recipient -- one student-athlete and one non-student-athlete -- will receive a one-time, non-renewable $500 scholarship, which will be awarded in the spring of 2021. The submission deadline is November 15, 2020. Please email all support materials to Diane Cassimire at dl-cassimire@wiu.edu.
For more information, click here.
MARCH TO VOTE
"I want to encourage a movement, using my platform as a student-athlete to promote real change." - DeShon Gavin
March to Vote is an initiative created by DeShon Gavin to encourage young adults to engage in national, state, and local elections. The September 26 rally brought together the WIU community, and with the assistance of The League of Women Voters of McDonough County, several registered to vote on-site.
The 2020 General Election will be held on November 3, 2020. Click here for voter information in all 50 states.
October 28 & 29 - "Huddle Up"
Focusing on diversity, equity, and inclusion, the Institute for Sport Social Justice will be providing educational training sessions for WIU Athletics' staff and student-athletes. The 'Huddle Up' discussions will highlight unconscious bias, the power of words, allyship, and building community.
