Students Call for Change

Carnegie Mellon University student-athletes are more than athletes, and more than students working toward a degree. They are insightful and are raising their voices for change.

The Carnegie Mellon University softball team is speaking out on social issues and want to affect change. The team posted the following video on Instagram and other social media channels.

View this post on Instagram

We hope that you actively discuss issues of race in your personal spheres. These conversations are tough but necessary. We value and respect all walks of life and value individualism and diversity in our program. We hope that as we take a stand to affect change, you will join with us. ?????????????? . . #athletestakeaction . #thisisus #love #tartanproud #virtualcmu

A post shared by Carnegie Mellon Softball (@carnegiemellonsoftball) on

Head softball coach Monica Harrison was recently appointed as the department’s NCAA Athletics Diversity and Inclusion Designee and is proud of her team for the impact they’ve already created.

“This generation will be the ones who drive the change,” said Harrison. “I’m so proud of my team for engaging in this area of awkward, heavily charged conversations. They are passionate in their ideas and I want to be supportive in any way I can. We have always believed the next leaders of the world will come from our teams and I’m proud to see the beginning stages of this process for them.”

Recent events inspired the team to use its youth game as a catalyst for even more change with plans to collect donations to support the Natasha Watley Foundation (NWF) that was founded by two-time Olympic medalist Natasha Watley. The foundation’s mission is to create opportunities for girls in under-served communities to learn and play the game of softball and uses the medium of sport to inspire young women to reach their full potential while fostering character development and awareness of social issues that affect women.

“My teammates and I are committed to fighting for equality, and recognize that silence is no longer an option,” said sophomore Summer Faille. “Softball is a historically expensive sport, and we want to do our part to ensure that everyone has access and equal opportunities.”

Since its first season in 2019, the softball team has been engaged in the Pittsburgh community with its youth-day game and clinics to inspire young girls to play the game.

“Working with the young girls was truly amazing,” add Faille. “Knowing that my teammates and I were once in their places, and now having the opportunity to shape their thoughts and feelings about this sport is inspiring. It was easy to see their awe in working with a college team, but I can guarantee that we were just as inspired by them and their enthusiasm. We’re looking forward to more of the same opportunities.”