Temple University Athletics
Temple Student-Athletes Host Pledge Drive in Honor of National Coming Out Week
10.20.16 | General
PHILADELPHIA – During National Coming Out Week, the student-athletes of the Temple Student-Athlete Safe Space (SASS) hosted OwlEyes for Allies, a pledge drive that encouraged students and staff to show their support for an inclusive environment. Members of the Temple Athletics community had the opportunity to sign a note of support at the Resnick Academic Support Center. SASS received a total of 174 pledges over the course of the week.
The student-athletes of SASS organized the pledge drive and were backed by the Compliance and Student-Athlete Affairs Office.
"The most important initiatives are student-driven initiatives," said Associate Athletic Director of Compliance and Student-Athlete Affairs Kristy Bannon Sromovsky. "We are so excited that our student-athletes have chosen to take the lead on departmental efforts to create an inclusive environment that is both supports and affirms all individuals."
Former Temple fencer, Olivia Wynn, was one of the main organizers of OwlEyes for Allies.
"SASS really wanted to organize a project for National Coming Out Week and thus we came up with OwlEyes for Allies," explained Wynn. "This project was especially targeted to student-athletes because we feel there is a disproportionately low amount of 'out' student-athletes at Temple. We wanted an initiative to show student-athletes that it is okay to be a part of the LGBTQIA spectrum and that they would be supported by their peers if and when they choose to come 'out'."
Temple is a member of the founders club for the LGBT SportSafe Inclusion Program, an organization designed to help athletic leadership champion a culture of respect and inclusion. SASS hopes to bring several other initiatives to Temple. The group is currently working with Temple Athletics to develop a "You Can Play" video. The "You Can Play" campaign is an initiative that states that student-athletes are welcomed and encouraged to participate in sports as long as they can play, regardless of sexual orientation.
"A number of other colleges and universities have participated in the campaign by creating 'You Can Play' videos," said Wynn. "We are hoping that Temple will be the next institution to join the initiative."
The student-athletes of SASS organized the pledge drive and were backed by the Compliance and Student-Athlete Affairs Office.
"The most important initiatives are student-driven initiatives," said Associate Athletic Director of Compliance and Student-Athlete Affairs Kristy Bannon Sromovsky. "We are so excited that our student-athletes have chosen to take the lead on departmental efforts to create an inclusive environment that is both supports and affirms all individuals."
Former Temple fencer, Olivia Wynn, was one of the main organizers of OwlEyes for Allies.
"SASS really wanted to organize a project for National Coming Out Week and thus we came up with OwlEyes for Allies," explained Wynn. "This project was especially targeted to student-athletes because we feel there is a disproportionately low amount of 'out' student-athletes at Temple. We wanted an initiative to show student-athletes that it is okay to be a part of the LGBTQIA spectrum and that they would be supported by their peers if and when they choose to come 'out'."
Temple is a member of the founders club for the LGBT SportSafe Inclusion Program, an organization designed to help athletic leadership champion a culture of respect and inclusion. SASS hopes to bring several other initiatives to Temple. The group is currently working with Temple Athletics to develop a "You Can Play" video. The "You Can Play" campaign is an initiative that states that student-athletes are welcomed and encouraged to participate in sports as long as they can play, regardless of sexual orientation.
"A number of other colleges and universities have participated in the campaign by creating 'You Can Play' videos," said Wynn. "We are hoping that Temple will be the next institution to join the initiative."
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