NOTRE DAME, Indiana — Notre Dame Athletics presents its first Unity Week October 18-23 through a partnership with the Stand Together initiative and the Notre Dame Athletics Diversity & Inclusion Council.
The week serves to provide opportunities for discussion and education for Notre Dame student-athletes and the campus community.
Highlights of the week include a Race for Change virtual 5K for student-athletes; virtual summits and panels featuring student-athletes, coaches and administrators; a celebration of the 75th anniversary of the first Black student-athlete at Notre Dame; and the release of a brand-new podcast, Brave Voices, which features stories from Black student-athletes and members of the campus community regarding racial injustice.
“Unity Week is one of many steps we’re taking to put our thoughts into action,” senior associate athletics director for culture, diversity and engagement Angie Torain said. “Our student-athletes, staff and community want to engage in tough conversations that make us better, and this week sets the tone for continuing that progress further.”
Sunday, October 18, 2020 11:00am-1:00pm (Campus)
• Race for Change Virtual 5K (sponsored by WBB)
Women’s Basketball is excited to participate in this initiative and is proud to sponsor another opportunity to make a difference. “Race for Change” is a community walk to raise awareness of social injustice, uplift the Black community, and focus attention on dismantling systems of oppression.
“Race for Change” will be held on October 18 @11am and will begin on the Library Quad. Come and walk with our student-athletes and engage in meaningful conversations about how we can make a positive impact on our surrounding communities.
• Athletes Virtual Summit 5:00pm-8:00pm (sponsored by ABIS) (Student-Athlete Only Event)
Monday, October 19, 2020 8:00pm-9:00pm (Virtual Event)
• SAAC Town Hall (sponsored by SAAC – StaND Together Subcommittee)
This Town Hall is an intersection of our Stand Together and Irish Strong Initiatives. A panel made up of 3 student-athletes of color and one coach ally, will share stories of how race and discrimination have impacted their lives. This Town Hall aims to support an environment in which we can learn, grow, and create change. Come hear these authentic and vulnerable stories from your Fighting Irish family.
Tuesday, October 20, 2020 10:ooam-10:30am (Virtual Event)
• Manager’s Round Table Diversity & Inclusion Discussion
This ‘Round Table’ discussion will include managers across all units within the athletics department, focused on diversity and inclusion and how we can collectively improve. Topics that will be covered include recruitment and retention of a diverse and talented staff and creating an environment in which all members of the athletics department family have a voice and opportunity for growth. To help guide these efforts moving forward, managers will also discuss team and individual goals connected to diversity and inclusion.
• Announcement of 75th Anniversary of the Black Student-Athlete Celebration
This year marks the 75th anniversary of Frazier Thompson earning a Monogram as a member of the varsity track and field team. Frazier came to Notre Dame in 1944 by way of the Navy V-12 Program to earn the distinction of being the first African-American to enroll at Our Lady’s University. Additionally, he was the first African-American to earn a Notre Dame Monogram in 1945. He would go on to earn a second Monogram 1946 and complete his degree in pre-professional studies in 1947. Notre Dame Athletics will utilize the 2020-21 academic year(s) to appropriately recognize and celebrate seventy-five years of athletic, academic and postgraduate accomplishments of the black student-athletes of Notre Dame.
• Brave Voices at ND Podcast (created by Indi Jackson)
Brave Voices is a Fighting Irish Media podcast hosted by Indi Jackson, former Notre Dame Track and Field athlete and graduate of the class of 2017.Indi interviews other Black Notre Dame Student Athletes about race in their life, in whatever form or fashion that they want. The goal of this show is to ease the tension around the discussion of race.
Episode 1 features the second Black Leprechaun in ND history, Sam Jackson. Sam sheds light on his difficult battle of honoring tradition, untraditionally.
Wednesday, October 21, 2020 12:00pm-1:00pm (Virtual Event)
• Athletics and University Update – Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (sponsored by Athletics and ND HR)
Come hear updates from Athletics and University Human Resource leadership on our plans to create a more inclusive campus community. You can expect to learn of newly developed programming, as well as some highlights of positive change being driven by our student-athletes and their respective athletic programs.
Thursday, October 22, 2020 7:30pm-8:15pm (Virtual Event)
• NDPD and Athletics Working and Living in Unity (sponsored by Hockey)
This virtual ‘meet and greet’ sponsored by Notre Dame Hockey will include student-athletes and members of the Notre Dame & local police departments. This will serve as an opportunity to learn from one another in a fun and light hearted environment.
Friday, October 23, 2020 2:00pm-3:00pm (Virtual)
• Dr. Rhea Boyd: “Health Inequity” 12:45pm – 1:45pm (ND Klau Center) (Registration Required; https://klau.nd.edu/news-events/events/2020/10/23/dr-rhea-boyd-health-inequity/)
• Real Talk: Civil Discourse Conversation (Eric Love and Ten Gray) – Join us as we discuss how we as a Notre Dame community, recognizing that diversity of thought and informed debate are valued in an academic setting, engage in robust conversation intended to enhance understanding. Further, how do we have discussions about issues with those who have differing views on those issues, in a way that is meaningful but not mean.