NATCHITOCHES – Amid a summer of social unrest that affected the nation, the Northwestern State Athletic Department set out to give its student-athletes an avenue to use their collective and individual voices.
 
The result in mid-June was the formation of the "Demons4Equality" Task Force, a 12-member group composed of student-athletes from across the department. During that time, NSU Director of Athletics Greg Burke individually called each of the student-athletes to request that they join the group while also sharing his vision for having an environment among the department's nearly 500 student-athletes, coaches and staff that epitomizes inclusiveness and diversity.
 
The group held its initial meeting via WebEx on June 23 before choosing to align its future activity with the arrival to campus of newly appointed Vice President of Inclusion and Diversity Dr. Michael Snowden in August. Its first meeting was cancelled due to Hurricane Laura and the group has now met three times and will be moving forward with its 2020-21 goals and objectives.
 
"Formation of this group is a proactive and positive step for the NSU athletic program. It is important that every student-athlete, coach and staff member function in a comfortable environment and one in which they can express themselves and be themselves," said NSU Athletic Director Greg Burke.
 
"My initial thought when I was contacted about the group was we were being proactive," said junior softball student-athlete Cayla Jones, who along with Daunte Stuart from the baseball team volunteered to co-chair the group. "Greg Burke contacted me shortly after the George Floyd murder, and I felt like I was called to make a change.
 
"I see this group raising awareness on minority issues and having a positive impact on those who are having a hard time being treated equally – whether that be Black lives, other minorities and the LGBTQ+ community. I want this to be a safe space for people to come forward about their problems on campus within those regions, and hopefully, we can help."
 
Prior to the initial summer meeting, student-athletes were asked to submit what they perceived to be redeeming values of the athletic department regarding racial awareness and sensitivity, as well as areas in which the department could be better. That feedback, combined with subsequent insight gained during the first two group meetings, led to the development of three goals for the 2020-21 year:
 

• To emphasize cultural awareness
• To foster an inclusive and diverse environment
• To serve as equality ambassadors through external engagement.

 
Included in the group's objectives are such initiatives as conducting inclusion and diversity training for all student-athletes, coaches and staff within the NSU Athletic Department, creating opportunities for dialogue between student-athletes and coaches/staff regarding equality-related issues both within the department and on a broader level, and focusing on having a more consistent presence in local schools, especially those with students from under-represented backgrounds.
 
"I see us building a strong presence on NSU's campus and in the Natchitoches community," Stuart said. "We, as a group of leaders, will inspire and assist minorities or anyone facing adversity."
 
Other Athletic Department members of the "Demons4Equality" group include Dr. Haley Taitano Deputy Athletic Director; Assistant Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Development Kaitlyn McCanna; and Faculty Athletics Representative Jody Biscoe. Two coaches who also are former Demon athletes – DeVon Lockett (football) and De'Shalyn Jones (cross country/track and field) – also sit on the committee.
 
"During those initial phone calls, each of the student-athletes were read a quote that reflected a perspective the department thought should be embraced, 'Sometimes we rush too far past the dialogue because we want to get to a solution,'" said Burke. "Rather than approach this group with a preconceived plan, it was and will continue to be imperative that we as administrators and coaches listen and understand their emotions, concerns and backgrounds."
 
Student-Athlete representatives on the NSU Athletic Department "Demons4Diversity" Task Force:
 

• Judit Castillo Gargallo, Women's Tennis
• Jasmine Dansby, Track/Cross Country
• Kalen Green, Women's Basketball
• Darius Groves, Track/Cross Country
• Kie'Ave Harry, Track and Field
• Natalee Henry, Soccer
• Cayla Jones, Softball (Co-Chair)
• Isaiah Longino, Football
• Jasmyn Steels, Track and Field
• Daunte Stuart, Baseball (Co-Chair)
• Brian White, Basketball
• Darria Williams, Volleyball