VILLANOVA, Pa. – Villanova found itself represented at the Athlete Activism Summit at the end of June for the first time ever with a small group of student-athletes and staff making their way to Louisville, Ky.  for the four-day event. 

Representing UNITAS' Athlete Ally affinity and ally group, rising juniors Winnie Jalet from the swimming and diving team and Sabrina Pauli of rowing were joined by their staff advisor Marie Schauder, Director of Administrative Operations for Men's Basketball, at the event that was put on by Athlete Ally, in partnership with adidas and the University of Louisville.

Over the course of four days, college athletes, coaches, and administrators from across the country convened to build community, gain knowledge, and commit to actions to help expand LGBTQI+ inclusion and allyship on their campuses. Those in attendance heard from Athlete Ally staff and event co-hosts throughout breakout sessions and spending time with affinity groups on how they are using education, policy reform, athlete activism and research to champion LGBTQI+ inclusion in and through sport.

Both student-athletes reflected on their time at the summit and what attending the event meant to them. 

WHAT MADE  THE ATHLETE ACTIVISM SUMMIT IMPACTFUL FOR YOU?

Pauli: “Being able to meet so many other athletes from other schools and chapters really made the weekend what it was. I not only created genuine friendships but learned about other schools' cultures and what it is like being a student-athlete outside of Villanova.”

Jalet: "I was able to learn so many new strategies for how to grow our Athlete Ally group but also build a community on our campus. I also learned about what our goals should be for our chapter by seeing how other groups promote and build up their own chapters. I was also impacted by how many people I met who were in similar situations as myself and that really made me feel less alone as a queer student athlete."

WHAT MESSAGES OR EVENTS STOOD OUT TO YOU FROM THE WEEK?

Pauli: "The message of the weekend was ‘Love Unites’. I think that the weekend as a whole was extremely positive, uplifting and memorable because of this main message. The reminder and emphasis on love was definitely the backbone/foundation of the summit experience."

Jalet: “Dr. (John) Carlos (The World's Fastest Humanitarian Olympian 1968 Bronze Medalist) spoke about never letting your morals go even when you reach great success. The theme of never selling yourself out and always being true to yourself really stuck with me.”

HOW CAN ATTENDING AN EVENT LIKE THIS INSPIRE STUDENT-ATHLETES?

Pauli: “Whether you are a queer athlete, a straight ally, etc. attending the summit, you will be welcomed with open arms. This weekend inspired me to embrace my passion and love for Villanova's Athlete Ally chapter and really dive into the process of expanding the club within athletics.”

Jalet: “This event inspires student-athletes because it builds community beyond your campus and it reminds you that you’re not alone in the fight to equality. And this makes you all the more motivated and inspired to get involved and make a different on campus.”

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST TAKEAWAY FROM THE SUMMIT?

Pauli: "The summit was a necessary reminder to me that Athlete Ally is a national support system, and that there are hundreds of athletes and allies who are dedicated to supporting every chapter and every member of Athlete Ally."

Jalet: “That one of the best ways to learn, grow and truly be better, is by talking and communicating with people. We cannot learn by simply keeping to ourselves.”

To learn more about UNITAS' Athlete Ally affinity and ally group and find additional resources for allyship learning and training, visit the chapter's page at this link.