The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) is denying my son, Aiden Assad, from playing basketball at his high school during his senior year due to an eligibility/transfer rule. The rule comes from an outdated and discriminatory set of guidelines that are unfairly administered most often against minority students. This discriminatory penalization occurs because the rules were not designed to consider — in any way — the challenges unique to Black families in America. It is known that schools do not always follow this rule (it is currently happening right now!)
Aiden moved in with his father the day his junior year ended to help him recover and heal from a significant health challenge (which his father beat!) Aiden's father lives in the same school district where Aiden attends high school. I, his mother, work at the same high school Aiden attends. They are saying since Aiden moved from one school district to another, he is ineligible to play.
From Aiden’s father: Madison, we love showing up for black boys and girls when it’s too late; when they are dead or on the way to prison is when we show up. But when they accomplish great things we don’t acknowledge them enough. Why Madison, do we only want to hear of the trauma of black students, and never the triumph of black students? This is far more than my son just playing basketball. This is about America keeping its agreement to our youth. We constantly tell our children that doing things the right way will put them on the right path. My son Aiden is the epitome of the right way. A 3.4 student, a lovely, appropriate young man, a young man who spends most of his time mad at me, and that’s okay too.
As my caretaker, Aiden would walk me to the bathroom, pick me up from the toilet, walk me to the shower, feed me and inspire me. All the while going to work and going back to school at Verona. Aiden didn’t ask for these things, but he stood up like the loving child he is. I, Coach Assad, fight for the dignity of all students. Let’s show our students that the American dream is not the American scheme. Aiden is an excellent example of black youth triumph. Let’s start recognizing the triumphs and not just the traumas. I am the proud father of two incredible black men. I have fought for your children, help me in the fight for mine.
The WIAA keeps moving the goalpost on us. They asked us to send letters to the high school athletic director explaining the extenuating circumstances. We did that. Then they asked us to get a letter from Aiden’s father’s doctor stating he went through this significant medical issue. We did that. Then they asked us to have the doctor send a letter stating Aiden was his father’s caretaker. We did that. Then they asked for the prior school district to sign off on a letter stating they were okay with Aiden playing in the new school district. WE DID ALL OF THIS! And he is STILL being denied.
Now they are telling this young man, who has a 3.4 gpa, who is selfless, has been working part time at Dick's Sporting Goods for the last two years, helps at home that he cannot play.
WE NEED YOUR HELP! PLEASE SUPPORT AIDEN!
Thank you!
THE TRANSFER RULE “A student who transfers from any school into a member school after the sixth consecutive semester following entry into grade 9 shall be ineligible for competition at any level for one calendar year, but may practice, unless the transfer is made necessary by a total and complete change in residence by parent(s).”
Eligibility waivers include: Residence and Transfer - No standard form Basis of consideration: - Documented extenuating circumstances (unforeseeable/unknowable events: significant, forced/involuntary change that mitigates the rule)
THE EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCE IS HIS FATHER’S UNKNOWN/UNFORESEEABLE MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS - they are still denying us!
https://www.wiaawi.org/Portals/0/PDF/Eligibility/transferrules.pdf
