A statement from Winthrop Athletics:
 
We have come together.  We have listened to each other's stories.  We have cried together, we have encouraged each other, and we have made a plan of action together.  We have something to say.
 
The Department of Athletics at Winthrop University stands together against systemic racism and police brutality.  Many of us have been impacted by these issues far too long and now is the time for us to come together as one team and fight injustice.  We will embrace one another in a unified commitment to action.  We will listen to one another and endure in providing ongoing support to one another, even after the media coverage has subsided.  We will especially remain active when the attention has been directed elsewhere. 
 
We acknowledge that BLACK LIVES MATTER but cannot be satisfied with words alone. We must take action.
 
In addition to supporting one another, we must collectively engage in the fight against systemic racism in our country. 
 
Together, we will drive forward toward racial equality and hereby commit ourselves to the following actionable first steps in doing such.
 
WINTHROP ATHLETICS ACTION PLAN:
We have outlined several areas where we wish to move forward.  We are committed to taking the following steps in each of the following categories.
 
1. Educate
a.      By June 12^th, 2020, Winthrop Athletics will identify a training mechanism for Diversity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism as well as Cultural Humility that will be required for all staff and student-athletes who wish to be a part of Winthrop Athletics.
b.      By June 30^th, 2020, and each year that follows, Winthrop Athletics will schedule monthly experiential learning and growth opportunities for the year highlighting how racism and race implications impact various elements of our community.  These learnings will be made available to our staff and student-athletes once each month.
c.       By June 30^th, 2020, Winthrop Athletics will reach out to community leaders as well as campus police to schedule multiple educational gatherings for the purpose of strengthening relationships and better unifying our entire campus community.
d.      Effective immediately we will begin incorporating education, forums and activities for staff and student-athletes on legislation being enacted to fight hate crimes and laws that align with the values of our department.  We will foster behaviors for each of us to become active advocates within our community.
 
2. Support
a.      By June 18^th, 2020, Winthrop Athletics will have identified and designated a Diversity and Inclusion Representative (DIR).  Modeled after the Faculty Athletics Representative role, this person will be a non-athletics employee who has agreed to be a resource for any student-athletes in need of support as a result of systemic racism.  Furthermore, Winthrop Athletics will advocate through NCAA legislation to make the DIR a required position across all of NCAA Division I, as it is already required for Division II and Division III.
 
3. Communicate
a.      By June 12^th 2020, Winthrop Athletics will have organized a monthly gathering allowing staff to come together and dialogue about how racism is impacting the lives of our Eagle Family, along with what each of us can do in response.
b.      By June 18^th 2020, Winthrop Athletics will work with our Student Athlete Advisory Committee to organize monthly gatherings for student-athletes to come together and dialogue about how racism is impacting their lives, their fellow students' lives and that of their family and friends, along with what each of us can do in response.

4. Impact
a.      By December 31^st, 2020, and each year moving forward, Winthrop Athletics will organize and host an exhibition men's basketball game for the purpose of raising money and awareness for an organization determined annually by SAAC to fight racism and promote justice.
b.      We will continue working with RISE (Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality) and begin taking immediate steps to educate our student-athletes on how local politics operate and the importance of them making the time to vote.
c.       Effective immediately, Winthrop Athletics will no longer host any countable athletically related activities (CARA) on Election Day.  Any contests already scheduled will be honored, but all future contests will be prohibited on this day.  Furthermore, we will actively assist our student-athletes with transportation to their voting locations.
 
5. Endure
a.      Winthrop Athletics commits that on January 31^st, 2021, and again on June 1^st, 2021, we will report on the impact of these action steps.  Furthermore, we will outline what next steps will mean for continuing to carry the banner for racial equality into the future.