Refuse to be Silenced Petition

#StudentAthletes4Change

We, the women’s basketball team of William Peace University, demand changes within our university by making sure that racial equality is being executed in all aspects. The desired reforms are listed below: 

Implicit Bias training should be mandatory for all faculty and staff members yearly to prevent prejudiced mindsets and stereotypes from interfering with the effectiveness of doing their jobs. 
Implicit Bias is the effect a person’s unconscious attitude or belief they have towards another person based on stereotypes. Implicit bias can affect a person’s ability to do their job if the situation at hand supports their prejudiced view. Oftentimes, people are unaware that they are being biased therefore making this training even more essential.  

Initiation of a task force that handles code of conduct issues in all aspects of WPU when a student is suspended or put on probation. Specifically, the task force would review the decision of the department that sustained the suspension or act of probation of the student and verify if the punishment given was ethical and well-founded. The task force members need to include the Director of Diversity and Inclusion, Director of Athletics, Director/President of Student Life, Director/President of Residence Life and Housing, and the Director/President of Academic Affairs, SGA, and SAAC. This would allow for an equitable code of conduct process for all members of the Willam Peace Community.
Students should be notified of all decisions being made throughout this process, but specifically 24 hours before the meeting(s), which gives students time to find an advocate and prepare for the meeting. 

When the task force makes the decision, there needs to be policy included to clearly justify the suspension.

Students should be allowed to choose who their advocate is during the disciplinary hearings and the entire code of conduct process, there should not be one designated for them unless they do not have their own. If the student doesn’t have an advocate, then a member of SGA or SAAC should be utilized. 
The student advocate would be able to provide insight from the student’s perspective and be a mediator between the department upholding the decision and the student. The student advocate would be involved when the task force is reviewing the decision as well. 

Monthly meetings for the Coaching Staff of all athletic teams to meet collectively and discuss issues/concerns. Monthly staff meetings for professors and advisors to discuss issues/concerns.