A group of Black student-athletes and allies at USC have "formed an organization to 'urge USC and USC Athletics to take bold, decisive action to combat racial inequality and support Black students,'" according to Ryan Kartje of the L.A. TIMES. USC hurdler Anna Cockrell yesterday in an email to AD Mike Bohn "announced the formation of the United Black Student-Athletes Assn." The group acknowledged that USC has "made recent statements of support for the Black community," including the decision to "cut ties with a football booster who used hate speech on social media." But UBSAA "suggested in its letter that 'it is not enough.'" Bohn declared that USC "would 'embrace the meaning of Black Lives Matter' and stand in solidarity with Black student-athletes, coaches, and staff." He said, "This is a time for action, not words.” Bohn in a statement announced the "formation of the department’s own group, the USC Black Lives Matter Action team, which will apparently work in conjunction with UBSAA to institute meaningful reform within USC athletics." The UBSAA in its letter laid out "several suggested courses of action," including "considering more Black candidates for athletic department jobs." Among other demands, the letter to Bohn also called for "implicit bias training for all student-athletes and staff members and a policy of no athletic activities on election day." Bohn said he would “enthusiastically encourage our student-athletes to use their platforms to effect change" (L.A. TIMES, 6/18).
MORE DETAILS: In California, Adam Grosbard notes the UBSAA's letter also asks that student-athletes be "included in the conversation about re-opening the athletic department in light of COVID-19, noting that the pandemic has disproportionately affected the Black community" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 6/18).
