Southern Connecticut State University Athletics

Southern Connecticut State University Athletics has announced the formation of the student-athlete managed "Athletes Fighting Injustice" group. The group is comprised of SCSU student-athletes from various teams, as well as race, gender and sexual orientation. 

The student-athlete group is a product of the "Owls Stand Together Against Racism" forum that was hosted by SCSU Athletics on July 7, 2020. The student-athletes that attended the group inquired as to how to be more involved in addressing instances of racism and social injustice at Southern Connecticut and beyond. Those student-athletes included in the group are Felicia Laguerra, Madeline Sweeney and Taylor Davis from women's soccer; Jazmyn Martinez and Jayden Delaporta from softball; Elijah Ortiz, Jalen Coleman Jack Brown and Dan Perusina from mens' track & field; Grace Conselyea and Julia Schaff from field hockey and Krishnalei So'oto and Niah Mesidor from volleyball.

The group's mission is to:

• Empower student-athletes to be leaders within the athletic department on anti-racism issues
• Cultivate conversations around anti-racism, systemic racism, police brutality, and activism
• Educating teams and coaches on implicit bias & micro aggressions
• Be progressive towards demolishing racist traditions
• Understanding activism through protests
• Create community around fighting injustices and developing ally ship

Throughout the Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 semester, the group will be organizing a variety of events centered on bringing awareness to racial and social injustices that affect them as student-athletes, and society as a whole. If you're interested in following the group's progress, visit @SCSU_AFI on Instagram. 

If you are a Southern Connecticut student-athlete and wish to be involved in Athletes Fighting Injustice, please contact Kelley Frassinelli (frassinellik1@southernct.edu), Ken Sweeten (sweetenk1@southernct.edu) or Jay Turiano (turianoj2@southernct.edu), or any of your teammates that are part of this initiative.