Texas Tech Athletics announced Tuesday (October 27th) that student-athletes across several sports have formed the Black Student-Athlete Alliance, which will operate as part of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

BSAA has elected an executive board of student-athletes and has written a mission statement that says it will"develop, coordinate and execute messaging, programming and continued commitment to the holistic experience of student-athletes of color." The BSAA is also petitioning to be an official on-campus organization.

Athletics Director Kirby Hocutt spoke about the BSAA, saying: "The Black Student-Athlete Alliance will be a tremendous addition to our athletics department. I look forward to working with the BSAA to continue our conversation and programming focusing on the holistic experience for our student-athletes of color.”

The BSAA will focus on five call-to-action items, according to their official release:

As part of its founding, the BSAA has already developed five call-to-action items: Reinforcing “all lives cannot matter until Black lives matter” and other racial and social justice issues; Creating ongoing required educational trainings and workshops focused on racial and social injustice issues; Making greater consideration in offseason scheduling for student-athletes; Promoting holistic support of student-athletes as more than athletes; and an overall commitment to East Lubbock and the local Lubbock community.

In conjunction with the BSAA, Texas Tech has created the Committed to Change Committee, which will enforce those call-to-action items. That will include community partners and athletics department staff, including Hocutt.

The BSAA executive board includes student-athletes from track and field and softball, but will be joined by athletes from multiple sports including football, men's and women's basketball, and more.


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