NFL
By: Zach Draves
The thrill of victory is exhilarating and for the Clemson men’s track and cross country programs it comes with a sigh of relief.
After five months, the university announced that they will continue the program and add on additional women’s sports teams in the near future.
This decision is the culmination of a true grassroots movement that spurred on from a baseless decision made by the AD Dan Radakovich in November 2020 to cut the programs for supposed COVID-19 related budgetary matters under the guise of “saving money.”
The movement became #SaveClemsonXCTF which consisted of current and former athletes along with family, students, and alumni who utilized the resources they had to get the word out and to recruit a broad base of support.
(Courtesy: GoFundMe)
Their Instagram and Twitter pages were flooded with support and a Change.org petition they put together was signed by over 32,000 people.
(Courtesy: The Tiger)
Other major university track programs such as Duke and Florida State through their weight behind the Tigers in recorded videos.
Elected leaders advocated for the preservation of the program including current DNC chair and former South Carolina Senate candidate Jaime Harrison and State Senator Marlon Kimpson who made an impassioned plea on the South Carolina Senate floor.
Clemson announced today that our men’s program will continue in full beyond the 2020-21 season! https://t.co/zIjDN30KVk
— Marlon Kimpson, Esq. (@KimpsonForSC) April 22, 2021
Former college track runner and current civil rights activist Russell Dinkins took up their cause and fought tooth and nail to successfully get a civil rights complaint being filed against the University for Discrimination on the basis of race considering that the overwhelming majority of the runners were black men.
(Courtesy: New York Daily News)
Furthermore, a Title IX violation was brought up arguing that this decision was denying equal opportunities to participate in activities.
The women’s team issued a letter indicating their full support of the men’s team while also decrying the university’s lack of investment in their program as well as other women’s programs.
This victory was brought on by the tireless organizing and mobilizing of the track team and their allies who never relented and never gave in.
Civil rights attorney Arthur Bryant of the law firm Bailey & Glasser also offered his services to save the program.
(Courtesy: Bailey Glasser)
I had the opportunity to ask him the following questions about the monumental impact of this decision.
Describe how much of a factor the grassroots movement to save the track team played a huge part in achieving this victory?
The people involved in the grassroots movement to save the men’s track, field, and cross country teams – #SaveClemsonTF – played a critical role in achieving this victory. They contacted me, got me and my firm (Bailey Glasser) involved, got Lori Bullock and her firm (Newkirk Zwagerman) involved, and helped organize both the male and female athletes to sue. They were crucial sources of information and helped us make all of the connections. They also generated political, financial, and public relations pressure on Clemson — and made clear that they wouldn’t give up until Clemson reinstated all three teams. This would not have happened without them.
What do you think contributed to this decision?
Clemson has been depriving its female student-athletes and potential student-athletes of equal athletic financial aid, benefits, and treatment in violation of Title IX for decades. What it gives to its football players, compared to its female student-athletes (and, likely, its other male student-athletes) is jaw-dropping. The elimination of the men’s track, field, and cross country teams deprived its male student-athletes and potential student-athletes of equal athletic participation opportunities in violation of Title IX, too. And, incredibly, Athletic Director Radakovich claimed publicly that the elimination of the men’s teams was required by Title IX, which just wasn’t true.
All of that combined to infuriate everyone involved in #SaveClemsonTF, the male student-athletes, and the female student-athletes – and prompt them to reach out to us. When it became clear both that Clemson wasn’t telling the truth and that it was treating its male athletes, as a whole, WAY better than its female athletes, it prompted everyone to pull together and fight. And Clemson knew that, if we sued, it would lose. It was violating Title IX and illegally discriminating against both its student-athletes.
Do you think this victory will give hope to other programs experiencing similar fates?
It should and it will. Throughout the country, colleges and universities are discriminating against women and, in some places, men in violation of Title IX and depriving them of equal opportunities, financial aid, benefits, and treatment. This victory shows that, when people are dedicated to ensuring equality and stopping discrimination, they can do so – preserving teams and expanding opportunities for all. It also shows that, when schools violate Title IX, they will be held accountable. That should give other programs facing potential discrimination – and all of us – hope.
It is worth mentioning that at various institutions, including Michigan State Swim and Dive and Stanford Wrestling, Olympic sports are being cut with little to no explanation.
Some say it is for COVID-related matters or others say it is because these programs don’t generate enough revenue.
But the truth is these programs have produced not just talent but memories that will last a lifetime.
Also as a reminder to other universities that if you can afford a state of the art training facility that comes with putt-putt golf and laser tag as the Clemson football has been spoiled with on taxpayer’s dime mind you, then you can muster up the will to protect your other athletes that just want to take in the joy and pleasure of sport as well.
The #SaveClemsonXCTF has earned a place in the history books and embodies the essence of what constitutes a social movement.
(Courtesy: The Tiger)
Grassroots, organized, relentless, unwavering, uncompromising, and hopeful.
