A panel of five former and current student-athletes gathered to discuss their experiences at the university on Monday, Feb. 13, at 7 p.m. The event, which took place in Brown Hall Auditorium, was a way for students, staff and the Johnson City community to listen and celebrate Black History Month alongside the athletics department.
The panelists consisted of senior Erek Campbell, sophomore Tya Blake, freshman Kimani Johnson and alumni Ja-Varius Harrison and Joe Rugley, representing multiple sports, such as volleyball, track and field, football and basketball. The panel was moderated by Daryl Carter, director of Black American Studies.
“I feel that coming to a PWI (Predominantly-White Institution) in general as a Black person is hard enough,” said Blake. “And as an athlete, you’re held to a higher standard.”
The athletes shared stories of their struggles and achievements in the classroom and on the court, track or field. They agreed that being a student-athlete is much different than being a student who does not play sports.
“There are certain luxuries that you don’t have as an athlete compared to the general student body,” said Harrison.
Harrison went on to talk about the constraints and sacrifices that come with being a part of a Division I athletic program; he compared it to being a robot at times, saying that an athlete’s schedule is often defined by their sport.
When asked if they, as Black student-athletes, feel supported by ETSU, most agreed that the university has made a lot of progress in diversity and inclusion, especially the multicultural center. However, they explained that there is more to be done towards inclusivity, such as the university being more involved in Black History Month or empowering and uplifting Black athletes and students in general.
For more information on ETSU athletics, visit them on Instagram @etsuathletics or their website ETSUBucs.com.
