Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Athlete Ally Chapter Holds First-Ever Pride Nights at Field Hockey, Volleyball Games
10/28/2021 9:47:00 AM | Field Hockey, Volleyball, Student-Athlete Enrichment
Through the leadership of senior Nicole Rivait of the Bison softball team, the Bucknell Athlete Ally Chapter was founded this fall. The nonprofit organization Athlete Ally supports student-run chapters that includes athletes, coaches and fans at all levels of sports to help to create LGBTQIA+ inclusive athletic environments.
Bucknell's Athlete Ally chapter aims to create a community where LGBTQIA+ individuals feel supported and connected, and individuals who do not identify as part of the community feel like they can be educated on how to be great allies and supporters for their fellow teammates. The Bucknell chapter is led by Rivait and is advised by senior associate director of athletics Michelle Manning.
This past weekend, Bucknell Athletics staged its first ever "Pride Games" when the Bison field hockey team hosted Colgate on Friday at Graham Field and the volleyball squad took on Army on Saturday at Davis Gym. Both games were presented by Bucknell Athlete Ally and in partnership with Bucknell University Fran's House and its transitional clothing donation drive. Team members wore rainbow items in support of LGBTQIA+ community members. Campus and local resource information cards and support items were also available to fans in conjunction with informative announcements throughout the games.
In addition, fans were asked to bring clothing donations to support the Fran's House collection initiative. In partnership with the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee's Social Responsibility Committee, teams will continue collecting clothing throughout the remainder of the semester to donate to Fran's House transitional closet. Athlete Ally looks to continue to host Pride Games as the year continues along with other future initiatives.
"Thank you to everyone for making Bucknell's first ever Pride Games in athletics such a success," said Rivait, a biology major who hit .387 for the Bison last spring. "Through Athlete Ally and the whole Bison community, we were able to show support for the LGBTQIA+ community in a way that has never been done before. It means so much not only to the people who are a part of the community directly, but for those who may be struggling internally or for those wondering how to best support their teammates and friends. By supporting these events, we are one step closer to empowering all Bison athletes and putting an end to homophobia and transphobia in sport. I wanted to say a special thank you to women's field hockey and women's volleyball for being such great supporters and allies to the community, and for stepping up to be the first to host Pride Games at Bucknell. Through their dedication and commitment to the Bucknell Athlete Ally chapter and the LGBTQIA+ community, we were able to collect a huge amount of clothing donations that will be given directly to Fran's House and will be put to immediate use within our Bucknell community. This weekend really showed me how strong the Bison family is, and I can't wait to help teams grow and support the LGBTQIA+ community in future events to come."
