In the past decade or so, we have seen many athletes use their platforms as a way to draw attention to social justice issues. Although professional athletes have the largest following and can draw the most attention to major issues, college athletes are trying to do some of the same. One problem is that although individuals are doing their best to enact change, the NCAA as whole is lagging in terms of social equality.

NCAA's Gender and Racial Gaps

Richard Lapchick is a professor at the University of Central Florida and one of the reasons he became a professor was because of his hopes that college campuses would be progressive in terms of social rights. Lapchick is unfortunately disappointed every year when the College Sport Racial and Gender Report Cards come out showing the unproportionate representation of female and minority athletes and coaches. 

In 2022, College sports received a C-plus for racial hiring practices and a C for gender hiring practices. This all starts at the top in college athletic departments where on average around 90 percent of athletic directors were white and around 65 percent of them being white men. White men even dominate the associate athletic director position in college sports leaving women and people of color with no pipeline to the athletic director position. The NCAA and all of college sports needs to find ways to minimize these gaps and incentivize schools to diversify their front offices.

Related: The Overturning of Roe Vs. Wade and Its Implications For Women in Sports

Athletes' Platforms For Change

Although the NCAA is lacking in terms of creating diversity in college sports, many college athletes have used their platforms and popularity to create positive change. Preslie Anderson, a volleyball player for Berkeley, responded to the George Floyd killing by writing a poem and having her school's administration post it on their website. Hezekiah Goodwin of Pacific Lutheran's cross country team has created a five step plan for his teammates and the rest of the country to take in order to become an advocate. The steps include acknowledging the problem, listening to marginalized groups, educating yourself, educating others, and exhibiting anti-racism. Adam Shibley and a group of his teammates created TUFF, an organization that “fights for social justice by donating customized uniforms and equipment while also offering mentorship to underserved inner-city youth athletes and youth sport teams.” These are just a few of many examples of athletes speaking out on the social injustices occurring everyday in our country.

Related: Kaiya McCullough: Defending Female Soccer Players on and off the Field

It is important that athletes and people around the country continue to speak out of the social injustices that occur. We need to continue to point out the racial and gender gaps that plague sports, and begin a shift in power that promotes more equality. At the end of the day, athletes can be far more than just the sum of their athletic abilities–they can be powerful agents of change. 
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* Originally published on September 27, 2022, by Royce Linder