Broncos Find a Voice for Change
SCUAD becomes Santa Clara’s first-ever community for student-athletes of color
For the first time in Santa Clara’s history, a community for Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) student-athletes stands tall. “SCUAD,” which stands for Santa Clara University Athletic Diversity, was formed by and for student athletes of color to share their stories and discuss change within athletics.
“I want all BIPOC student athletes to feel included,” said Alex Scales, SCUAD’s founder and fellow member of Santa Clara’s cross country and track and field team. “This group could inspire future athletes of color to not only come to SCU, but also change the way we all think and feel about ourselves as athletes.”
BIPOC student-athletes make up only 22% of the West Coast Conference. SCUAD’s main initiative is to provide space, dialogue and solutions for these athletes so that they can feel heard. Other founding members include junior Hayelom Fitsum and seniors Kalen Abe and Titi Bolarinwa, all members of cross country and track and field. Men’s soccer coach Mykell Bates and men’s tennis coach Niall Angus are the two staff members that will support the group.
The group’s values include community, education and support. They also want to ensure all their needs are being met. SCU’s athletic administration created their own group for racial justice reform called “CURE.” While this committee’s goals align with the mission SCUAD embodies, SCUAD specifically aims to hold CURE accountable, as well as focus more on individual student-athlete experiences.
“We are very well-supported by CURE and have faith in their initiatives,” Scales said. “However, we hope to be more of a bridge between student athletes and administration, to have the space to point out issues within athletics that should be addressed.”
The first meeting was held on Tuesday Sept. 29 via Zoom, and roughly 20 athletes across several sports attended. Even though the meeting was only scheduled to last an hour, the conversation about shared experiences as BIPOC athletes carried over the 60 minute mark.
“My feelings after our first meeting are optimistic,” said Bolarinwa. “I love the idea that I will have the chance to connect with student-athletes that I otherwise have never spoken to or met before.”
SCUAD will continue to meet on Tuesdays for an hour via Zoom but plan to meet weekly in person when it is safe to do so. For now, these athletes encourage members across all sports teams at SCU to participate, and ultimately want to connect with one another in a way that’s never been done before.
“I would love nothing more than to leave SCU and its athletic department a more open and diverse community than when I first arrived.”