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Posts tagged as “Smith Athletics”

Nonbinary Runner and Activist Cal Calamia on Resisting Anti-Trans Legislation

On April 21 at 7:30 p.m., Smith students gathered in Weinstein Auditorium to attend “Trans Inclusion in Sport,” a conversation with speaker Cal Calamia, who uses they/he pronouns. Cal Calamia is a highly successful transmasculine marathoner, activist, writer and educator who joined the discussion through Zoom. The event was moderated by Smith's Sports Committee for Inclusion and Diversity (SCID) board member Pria Parker ’25, who uses they/them pronouns.

Trans Athletes Belong in Sports and Staying in the NCAA Helps Us Fight for Them

On Thursday, April 10, at the annual Celebrations event, the organizers referenced Smith’s recent announcement that they are complying with the NCAA Transgender Athlete Ban. The organizers stated Smith’s compliance is, “blatant discrimination on the basis of gender identity and expression—a direct violation of Smith’s current non-discrimination policy.” They expressed their opposition and issued a call to action to the student body: “We vehemently oppose the College’s decision to comply and collaborate with fascism. As this policy is silently rolled out, we as a student body must continue to vocalize our dissent and support trans people on and off this campus.” Their statement reflected a larger, ongoing campus-wide debate on whether Smith should comply with this policy, not comply or pull out of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) entirely in protest.

Taping Things Up: How Smith is Overcoming the Athletic Trainer Shortage

Over 250 student-athletes are part of Smith Athletics' 11 varsity sports teams. Any injury, rehabilitation process, practice and game coverage or mental support needed for these athletes are directed towards the Athletic Training (AT) Department. The department is run by Deb Coutu and Kelli Steele, the only AT’s on staff this year after the loss of the graduate assistant position due to a 2015 policy change by the National Athletic Trainer’s Association (NATA).