Hillmon, Shibley Seek to Make Impacts With Big Ten Anti-Hate, Anti-Racism Coalition
7/22/2020 10:30:00 AM | Football, General, Women's Basketball, Features
By Steve Kornacki
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Naz Hillmon and Adam Shibley want to be part of the solution on the Big Ten Conference's Anti-Hate and Anti-Racism Coalition.
"My biggest takeaway from the early conversations in the coalition is that there is a lot that we can do," said Hillmon, a rising junior on the University of Michigan women's basketball team. "We can get stuck in: 'I'm just one person; I can't change anything.' But being part of the coalition has shown me that I am one person, but that if 120 people all put their foot in, then you can grow and expand, and make a difference together."
Shibley, a linebacker entering his fourth season in the football program, said, "I think sports play a pivotal role in teaching that life's lesson (of equality for all). It brings so many people together from different cultures, countries and ethnicities. This coalition will really tie into that."
They've taken part in recent Zoom conferences lasting approximately one hour along with other Wolverine student-athletes, coaches and administrators as well as hundreds of others across the conference. They're seeking to determine "tangible" ways to actively and constructively combat racism while empowering the right to free speech and peaceful protests -- goals set for the group in the June 1 Big Ten release detailing its formation in the aftermath of George Floyd's violent death.
"The events in our country and around the world during the past few months have strengthened my fundamental belief in our need to develop tangible and actionable efforts in a collective manner and provide viable solutions addressing the issues of hate and racism in our society," Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren said in announcing the coalition. "We have the distinct opportunity and responsibility through our coalition to continually encourage, educate and empower our student-athletes as we embrace transparent and much-needed dialogue regarding meaningful issues that have impacted race relations for many years."
Shibley, who is white, first encountered the ugly side of racism while at Cleveland St. Ignatius.
"I went through my own personal battles when I started dating an African-American girl during my freshman year of high school," said Shibley. "Some people would say some things that were not the nicest, and then I would have to put that to the side. That really is when I started to truly see what a problem this is in America.
"From that point on, I made it very important for me to acknowledge others as equal beings. Everyone's created equally, and we need to act like that on a daily basis. There's no space for hate. We're all God's creation, and that was instilled in me when I was younger. But it really took form in ninth grade."
Shibley, a two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree, was Michigan's Co-Scout Team Player of the Year on defense in 2018. Last season, he was the Special Teams Player of the Game against Iowa.
He learned of his spot on the coalition from Claiborne Green, director of football academic success for the Wolverines.
Shibley recalled Green's notification: "He said, 'You've been here three years and everyone sees through your actions that you truly are anti-racist and all about equality.' He added that my actions back up the way I truly feel and what my values are."
Hillmon said neither she nor Michigan women's basketball coach Kim Barnes Arico were initially on the coalition, but were added once they let their interest be known.
"We wanted to be a part of it because we found it very important," said Hillmon, who grew up in Cleveland and graduated from Gilmour Academy in suburban Gates Mills, Ohio.
Hillmon has been a first team All-Big Ten selection as well as the Wolverines' team MVP in each of her first two seasons. The hard-rebounding forward also was the Big Ten's Freshman of the Year and Sixth Player of the Year in 2018-19.
She noted, "If you put the time and effort in and express your concerns and feelings, and how things can change, something can be done. You are not alone in this. And people at this time might feel they are alone and misunderstood. Or they can't ask questions. Being a part of this, people want to know more and give out information while also receiving.
"So, it's really put it in perspective, that something good is coming out of this. People want to get things done and make a change. One thing I've talked about often is first educating ourselves. You can't educate others until you're educated. So, we have to work on that while also holding one another accountable. We need to make sure that everyone in Big Ten athletics values the beliefs of this coalition, and combats racism and hate."
The coalition will leverage, support and complement the efforts already taking place across the Big Ten through campus initiatives, as well as through existing conference-wide organizations like the Big Ten Advisory Commission. Established in 1972 in the midst of a period of significant social unrest, the Advisory Commission will have direct representation on the coalition.
Michigan president Dr. Mark Schlissel and Wolverine athletic director Warde Manuel are among the school's 16 representatives on the coalition.
Other staff members in the group are Abigail Eiler (assistant director of athletic counseling), Elizabeth Heinrich (executive senior associate athletic director and chief student development and compliance officer), Kenneth O. Miles (executive senior associate athletic director overseeing academics), football coach Jim Harbaugh, men's basketball coach Juwan Howard, men's and women's track and field head coach James Henry, men's soccer coach Chaka Daley and women's volleyball coach Mark Rosen.
Additional student-athletes on the task force are football defensive back Hunter Reynolds and women's track and field thrower Brianna Nelson, who are joined by Joyce Wilson-Eder (a former Michigan student-athlete on the Advisory Commission).
Shibley said Wolverine student-athletes, including some not members of the coalition, meet regularly with Eiler, who played water polo at Michigan, and former Wolverine and NFL linebacker Brian Townsend, now director of Michigan's athletic department leadership development program.
"And from those talks we've had multiple Zoom calls within the Big Ten Conference," said Shibley. "We have a space to share our thoughts and ideas of what we'd like to accomplish."
What are the main functions of the group?
"The first function is to get the (general election) voting numbers up for student-athletes across the Big Ten," said Shibley. "So, we've sent out surveys to gauge how many are registered voters. And we're trying to fight the voter suppression as well as trying to get as many people to vote as possible. Some people don't think their vote counts, but no matter what they stand for, we want people voting.
"And then the other focus is to make sure people on campuses are following the student-athletes who can set an example of not being racist and truly embracing everyone for who they are. We're also trying to educate other student-athletes, and one of the coolest things we're doing at Michigan is starting a student organization."
He noted that Nelson, the school record-holder in the weight throw as well as being accomplished in the shot put, spearheaded the launch of Wolverines Against Racism (WAR).
"Brianna came up with the idea," said Shibley, "and we think that organization will help create a larger impact. A lot of student-athletes have stepped forward with what they would like to see. We're developing the tangible initiatives we're going to have.
"I recommended that we start having more interactions with different players from different schools and trying to build that relationship with people of different races. Like, if we were to do a community service activity with Michigan State, I think there would be a lot of value gained from that. It would bring people together instead of separating."
Hillmon said Nelson discussed WAR on a Zoom call with other student-athletes celebrating Juneteenth.
"I think that's huge," said Hillmon. "If the Big Ten starts this, it branches out to Michigan, and then it branches out to other Big Ten schools and other universities. This can have that domino effect. I've expressed my interest in being part of that group as well. This is big for Michigan, and I'm just really appreciative to be a part of it. The combination of the (COVID-19) pandemic and the murder of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor and a couple other people has really opened my eyes. This time has really allowed me to dig into wanting to be more than an athlete, and being a role model that can do more, especially with our platform as student-athletes.
"This is bigger than basketball. Bigger than myself."
Shibley has enjoyed being on the coalition with Harbaugh and teammate Reynolds.
"It's really cool," said Shibley. "It's very honorable to see that Coach Harbaugh is on our coalition and that he cares about these issues. There are a lot of coaches across the country who might not want to put their neck out there because they think donors or other people will be upset by their actions. But Coach Harbaugh's always been somebody to stand up for what he believes in, and Hunter and I respect the hell out of him for that.
"I've also gotten to know Hunter better. We've been close, but not like best friends. Through the coalition, we're starting to have more conversations. He has a lot of great ideas."
Hillmon has cherished working with Barnes Arico for this cause.
"This shows her dedication to making a change," said Hillmon. "It would be very easy for her to sweep what's going on in the world under the rug, but she has not shied away from it at all. After the murder of George Floyd, one of the first people to call and reach out was Coach (Barnes Arico). She wants to educate herself and figure out how not to be a part of the problem.
"It's huge for me to see how much she cares, and that it's so much more than basketball. After every coalition meeting, we talk about how great it was and discuss the comments of others. I know everyone in the coalition supports me, but just knowing she's standing by me is huge."
Hillmon noted, "Right now, we're just building our foundation for the coalition. There has been a lot of conversation and plenty of questions."
The coalition has much to accomplish, but is off to a great, harmonious beginning.
Shibley concluded, "There's so much more to come, and I'm really excited about it."
