Dear UC Davis Athletics Community,

Over the weekend, I spent some time thinking about George Floyd's horrific death and other recent events that continue to highlight racial inequality in our society. 

I will never be able to understand what it is like to experience discrimination because of the color of my skin, but I've tried to be part of the solution working against it. However, over the weekend, I came to the realization that I haven't done enough. 

UC Davis Athletics has a history of building "trust, unity, and togetherness" among people from all backgrounds. As an organization, we have tried to acknowledge that racism exists in sports and be an athletics department that works against it. However, over the weekend, I came to the realization that we haven't done enough. 

The recent atrocities impacting the African American community are reprehensible. UC Davis Athletics rejects them in the strongest possible terms. We recognize the tremendous emotional and psychological impact that these discriminatory tragedies have created for our African American student-athletes, coaches, and staff. My privilege means that I don't experience this in the same way that you do, but I stand with you in support. 

Condemning racism and supporting those who are suffering is important, but real progress will not be made until we pass the test that follows. What will we do next, after the protests stop? Will we take action to create real progress and permanent change? Or will we go back to business as usual? Real change won't occur until we leave the sidelines to get in the game, and put forth the work, struggle, and effort to create a more just and equitable world. 

This weekend, I came to the realization that more must be done. I must do more personally. Believing in equality and denouncing racism is not sufficient without taking more action to help make change. 

UC Davis Athletics must do more organizationally. We must reflect on our organizational dynamics related to race and inequality with even more scrutiny. We must reject the false notion of "colorblindness" that sometimes characterizes discussions about race in sports and get better at acknowledging the different experiences that people have because of race. And we must double down on meaningful actions that will help create a more equitable college sports world. 

I regret that it has taken a series of tragic racist events and nationwide protests to catalyze more energy towards solving a problem that we know has existed for a long time. But the best we can do now is listen to our community, intensify our focus on meaningful action, and move forward together. That is what we're going to do.

-Kevin