SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Santa Clara Athletics took advantage of its talented and successful alumni base in the creation of a social justice patch.

Through the work of SCUAD (Santa Clara University Athletics Diversity), a student-athlete led group, a patch was designed and appeared on the uniforms of Bronco teams during the 2020-21 season.

Jordan Dawkins, former softball student-athlete and a member of the graduating class of 2019, designed the patch.

"I was excited about the opportunity to create meaningful work, but also a bit apprehensive because of the magnitude of its meaning," Dawkins said. "There were several things that directed my creative process. People might look at this patch and see nothing more than three hands raised in a fist, but it is so much more than that."

She was moved like so many by the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery to name a few.

"They were in my head while I made the patch options," Dawkins said. "In addition to wanting to help uplift those names with this patch, I wanted to make sure that the importance of unity within the POC community was not lost."

Dawkins was first contacted about the project by current softball player and former teammate Sammy Needham who is a member of the leadership team of SCUAD, which is fostering positive change for BIPOC student-athletes at Santa Clara.

"We appreciate the work of SCUAD leadership over the last year," director of athletics Renee Baumgartner said."This was an important initiative for our student-athletes, one of a number developed by SCUAD. We are so thankful for Jordan's creativity and passion in designing the patch."

Dawkins created a number of designs and she explained the one which emerged as the final one. That received 70 percent of the vote from student-athletes, coaches and staff.

"I wanted to make sure that the importance of unity within the POC community was not lost," Dawkins said. "You will notice that the hands are only visible through white highlight. This is NOT meant to represent the 'colorblind' concept. Instead, the hands' negative space is meant for the viewer to put their own hand in the image. I didn't assign colors so that you would assign yourself to the role of standing united against injustice. I want the viewer/ wearer of the patch to paint the hands with their own unique color and perspective. Why a white highlight? Because, ultimately, the dominant hegemony needs to recognize and shed light on their own role in the injustice so that we might all make progress."

Dawkins was excited to see the initiative created by student-athletes.

"I am absolutely thrilled about SCUAD being on campus for our athletes," Dawkins. I think what has started here with SCUAD is something that is a major force with both students and staff. As much as SCU advances and continues to build their facilities, both academic and athletic, SCUAD is making sure that SCU also builds and evolves socially."

Some of the other initiatives of SCUAD included a Summer Book Club and developing plans to increase voter registration and creating an anti-racism week platform in January.

Assistant director of athletics Carl Reed, who serves as the chair of the Athletics Committee on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, noted how the initiatives impacted the department.

"The hard work and dedication of the student-athlete led SCUAD group has been transformative in creating a positive dialogue between our student-athletes, coaches, and staff," Reed said. "I look forward to the Fall when we will continue this important work and dialogue."

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