On Sept. 16, a group of Harding athletes put together a panel for student athletes to come together and talk about racism and discrimination. Leading this discussion were former Harding basketball players Butch Gardner and Stan Eckwood, who spoke about their experiences on campus as African Americans in the \u201870s. Both Gardner and Eckwood said they had positive experiences and felt as if Harding was more accepting than any other place they had been to. The panel\u2019s goal was to spark a conversation among all student athletes and create a community that\u2019s inclusive to all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Student athletes like seniors Amanda Fields and Emily Garrett, both playing on Harding\u2019s softball team, said they walked away from the panel and are now actively trying to apply it to their everyday lives. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe men spoke about how athletics really shaped them, and I really want to take that idea and do my best to keep Harding a great place to play for others,\u201d Fields said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Garrett said she also believes that Harding athletics should continue practicing their attitude of respect. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI took away that the community at Harding has always been one of respect and encouragement and we should strive to keep it that way,\u201d Garrett said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Junior Romen Martin, a basketball player, was one of six student athletes who put the panel together, along with senior Katherine Cowart and sophomores Kinley Schnell, Chloe Ingersoll, Emma Winiger and Ally Stoner. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThese past four [or] five months have been really difficult for all people, no matter what race you are,\u201d Martin said. \u201cThe most beautiful thing about all of this, though, is that it has opened up so many opportunities for us to dive head first into topics that might\u2019ve been avoided for so long.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Martin said the panel was created for conversation and change. He said the generation of students at Harding is one that wants to see that change through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe younger generation has a deep desire to create change,\u201d Martin said. \u201cWe are the future.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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