The Big ten announced the formation of an Anti-Hate and Anti-Racism Coalition just a couple of weeks ago. It followed that up with a reveal of members of that Coalition on Monday. It’s an extensive list, and one that includes eight current Buckeyes.
Included from Ohio State are football defensive end Zach Harrison as well as athletic director Gene Smith. The complete list of Buckeye notables on the Coalition include the following:
Donald Anthony Jr. – Fencing Head Coach
Karen Dennis – Director, Men’s & Women’s Track and Field, Cross Country
Zach Harrison – Defensive End, Football Team Student-Athlete
Jen Flynn Oldenburg – Volleyball Head Coach
Alexus Pyles – Women’s Track and Field Student-Athlete
Khadevis Robinson – Men’s and Women’s Track and Field Head Coach
Gene Smith – Director of Athletics
Tony White – Advisory Commission, Former Basketball Student-Athlete
Other notable members of the coalition from across the conference include Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh and Juwan Howard, Maryland head coaches Mike Locksley and Mark Turgeon, P.J. Fleck of Minnesota, Iowa basketball head coach Fran McCaffery, Michigan State’s Mel Tucker, Fred Hoiberg of Nebraska, Penn State’s James Franklin, the Chicago Bulls’ Doug Collins as a partner, and more.
The Big Ten takes the next steps in empowering its student-athletes with the announcement of the members of the Big Ten Anti-Hate and Anti-Racism Coalition and the launch of the Big Ten Voter Registration Initiative.https://t.co/Yjl3FbJZQ1 pic.twitter.com/i7rmlcNTZt
— Big Ten Conference (@bigten) June 15, 2020
“The events in our country and around the world during the past few months have strengthened my fundamental belief in our need to develop tangible and actionable efforts in a collective manner and provide viable solutions addressing the issues of hate and racism in our society,” said Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren in a statement. “We have the distinct opportunity and responsibility through our Coalition to continually encourage, educate and empower our student-athletes as we embrace transparent and much-needed dialogue regarding meaningful issues that have impacted race relations for many years.”
As a part of the communication, the Big Ten also announced the formation of a 16 person Voter Registration Committee that “will be designed to inform and educate student-athletes on the importance of civic engagement and how to register to vote and submit a ballot, in person or absentee.”
The committee will provide monthly educational programs beginning in July through the general election in November.
“The Big Ten Conference Voter Registration Initiative is a natural extension of the conversation within the Coalition,” said Warren. “An election year provides the opportunity to educate our student-athletes in a non-partisan fashion regarding the importance of exercising their civic right to clearly understand the political process, register to vote, cast a vote during the upcoming election, and provide adequate support to combat voter suppression. We are at an inflection point in our country. Empowering our student-athletes by encouraging them to use their voices illustrates how we can collectively work together to build a better future.”
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