SCUAD Continues to Drive Change Within Santa Clara Athletics

An inside look into Santa Clara University Athletics Diversity leadership team

Commitment. Change. Community. 

These three words signify the true meaning behind Santa Clara University’s Athletic Diversity (SCUAD) group. 

SCUAD was formed last September by and for Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) student-athletes to share their stories and change the scope of diversity, equity and inclusion within Santa Clara athletics. The leadership team’s initial goal was to create an environment for BIPOC student-athletes to find a sense of belonging. Six months after its founding however, SCUAD recognizes how they are not only a safe space, but also a place for action and change.

“SCUAD was originally sanctioned as a place for BIPOC student-athletes and allies to just hang out and connect with one another,” said SCUAD leader Sammy Needham. “But now I think we’re centered around creating change and driving discussion, along with being a spot for athletes to come together.”

Leading the group are six student athletes: junior Alexander Scales (track and field); senior Liyah Lopez (softball); senior Daniela Camacho (cross country), senior Sammy Needham (softball) and sophomore Alex Perez (rowing). They meet virtually every Sunday night to plan the weekly meetings, and have formed a close bond since SCUAD’s formation. 

“This leadership team is so special to me,” said Perez. “I literally gush about these people, at all times. Having this network of support to lean on is so valuable.” 

In addition to their weekly meetings and provision of education for all student-athletes, SCUAD has generated tremendous, tangible change for the Bronco community. 

Early in the quarter, the group coordinated with Santa Clara softball alumnus Jordan Dawkins, who designed 12 options of social justice patches for athletes to wear on their uniforms. SCUAD helped narrow down the designs, and voted on the patch they felt best honored their social justice initiatives. 

The leadership team also improved their outreach on social media, and held several game nights––the most popular being “Among Us,” an online multiplayer game. When it’s safe to do so, SCUAD hopes to host in-person gatherings, with catered meals from various cultures and guest speakers.

Moreover, the opportunity for BIPOC student-athletes to share their experiences and struggles at SCUAD meetings––even in a virtual environment––is what the leadership team is most proud of. 

“To have that community,” said Lopez, “for both BIPOC-student-athletes to share and non-BIPOC counterparts to listen and support has been invaluable. It means the world to us.”

SCUAD’s inward development has also sparked change within the athletic administration. Aside from their established Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committee called “CURE,” several athletic department staff members and coaches launched their own voluntary discussion group, which also meets virtually on Tuesday nights. Administration also helped facilitate Anti-Racism Week, a four day long event in early January that addressed anti-racist individual actions and systemic changes within Santa Clara athletics. 

Despite the indicative support, SCUAD hopes for further backing from the athletic department in the future. The leadership team recognizes the administrators’ good intent and desire for progress. Yet oftentimes, their initiatives for enforcing real change fall by the wayside, and the overall communication between the two groups suffers.

“Having more accountability, and less fragile conversations with the athletic department are what we’re looking for,” said Scales. 

Ultimately, most of the activism work falls on the shoulders of the leadership team. They do all the heavy lifting and feel burdened by the deficient effort from Santa Clara athletics. 

“It is somewhat frustrating to always be the ones educating people,” said Perez. “I’m stuck in this duality between wanting my voice to be heard so that change can be made, but also, I don’t want to be the one doing all the work. The physical and mental toll [activism work] takes on BIPOC athletes can be very draining.” 

Ideas to relieve that pressure include mandatory diversity, equity and inclusion training that’s ongoing for the entire athletic department and student-athlete community, as well as a direct line of communication from the leadership team to the athletic directors and executives. SCUAD also encourages consistent attendance from even more athletes, especially from men’s programs. The group hopes to recruit representatives from each of Santa Clara’s athletic teams to regularly attend meetings and encourage other teammates to participate. 

The leadership team spent much of fall quarter deciding who SCUAD is truly meant for and cementing its overall mission. After weeks of restructuring their meetings and action items, the leaders feel SCUAD is in a well grounded place––one that is committed to change and fostering a community above all else.