I never understand why a person or enterprise who depends on financial support from others would choose to alienate half of their support base.
And there are others that I missed on both sides. I have opted in up until this point, but these are the things I consider going forward. It used to be an easy decision, but I'd be lying if I didn't admit that it's become a tougher one more recently.
This is a huge key...not just for our university. To me, this proves the "woke" people are far more interested in advancing their political agenda than they are in bringing us all together, or even in caring about us as fellow Bulldogs more than they do about "virtue-signaling".
As I read this thread, including comments about it being the kids, not the school, and them seeming to just jump on the "woke train" without considering all the facts, etc., I got to thinking how we might, as a university, try to deal with this in a way that offers appropriate support for the students, yet also attempts to ease frustrations from those of us who are sick of this ****.
What about our university hosting an event where we bring in people who can peacefully talk about the issues, the facts, the misinformation, steps already taken, etc., etc., encourage any who wish to protest to come to this event with a list of reasons why they feel protest is warranted, and have one-on-one discussions with a panel of experts who can discuss this list, either supporting or countering each given reason to see if that student still feels justified in protesting, etc.?
Assuming each student went through this process with an open mind, I'd ask each of them to then create a followup summary of what they feel is appropriate action moving forward, supported by reasons. For those who still want to protest, I'd arrange a meeting to discuss the way to go about this when their platform is as a representative of MSU athletics. There would need to be agreement on what actions are allowed when they are on "university time", for instance, no using MSU as a platform, but their personal time is their personal time. No skipping practice or games, etc. if you want to keep your scholarship and/or spot on the team.
They would need to have a full understanding that there are viable differences of opinion, and their actions have consequences. When those consequences affect our university, they don't get to take those actions without personal consequence if those actions were not authorized. Again, this is on "our time", not on "their time".
Bottom line, I would show support for our athletes by providing the aforementioned resources inspiring well-thought-out, peaceful, open-minded discourse, perhaps even requiring them to comment on what they had learned from each resource, and how & why each resource did or did not influence them. And after that was done, I'd make it a requirement that any MSU athlete who wants to make a public statement include in their remarks a rejection of violence entirely. I'd offer assistance to them if they wanted it in helping to craft a message that reflects what they wish to communicate, yet in a way that does so in a positive, unifying way.
If they don't want that, they can do it the way they prefer, only not as a student-athlete at MSU. They can remain a student, but participation as a student-athlete carries with it an added responsibility & duty to our school and all our fans. I'd encourage & provide continued counseling to help them make truly informed decisions on developments, etc.
Well, there are a few immediate thoughts before I've had a chance to think it through more thoroughly. If these kids want to make public statements, I really want them to have given serious, honest consideration to all available facts and to really consider all viewpoints before deciding to go public, and I'd want their actions to spring forth from a desire to unite and work together peaceably toward solutions. Any unwilling to do that can do what they want in a free country...but not as public representatives of our university.
