Big West Conference invites two CSUB representatives to join new committee

Director of Athletics Dr. Kenneth “Ziggy” Siegfried and women’s basketball senior Vanessa Austin will lend their voices to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee

By California State University, Bakersfield

September 15^th, 2020

The Big West Conference has invited two representatives from CSU Bakersfield to join the newly formed Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee to pursue solutions for a more equitable and just conference and world.

Director of Athletics Dr. Kenneth “Ziggy” Siegfried and women’s basketball senior Vanessa Austin will lend their voices to the committee, which is composed of one administrator and one student athlete from each of the league’s 11 member schools.

“It is one of the greatest honors I have experienced to be selected to serve on the Big West Undivided Committee,” said Siegfried. “Diversity, equity, and inclusion is something that has always been a passion of mine and I want to be a catalyst for positive and lasting change in our society.”

Austin, starting center for the Roadrunners, looks forward to the challenge.

“The social injustices we are facing within our society are issues that are going to take time to work through, but I think that with the education that I’m receiving from this committee, I will be able to bring that back to CSUB and the community, and together we will be able to have the uncomfortable conversations and begin to make change.”

CSUB President Dr. Lynnette Zelezny sits on the board of the Big West Conference, which the university joined July 1 after a years-long campaign to make the transition.

“I am confident that Dr. Siegfried and Vanessa will represent the quest for social justice that is flourishing on our campuses,” Dr. Zelezny said. “I am so pleased the Big West Conference selected two principled, passionate leaders to move this necessary conversation forward.”

The committee will work under the name Big West Undivided, which reflects the conference’s “united front to combat racism, fight for social justice, and proudly support the Black Lives Matter movement and other nonviolent organizations alongside its coaches and student-athletes.”

Four pillars that will guide the Big West Undivided Committee:

• Education – Educating Committee members and league constituents on the importance of diversity and inclusion

• Empowerment – Empowering student-athletes and administrators to find the voice to fight injustice

• Accountability – Holding those in campus communities and departments accountable for their actions and speech

• Change – Creating lasting change in campuses and communities through peaceful means and initiatives

The committee is chaired by UC San Diego Director of Athletics Earl Edwards. The vice chair of the committee is UC Santa Barbara Women’s Soccer student-athlete Evann Smith. Beyond fostering discussion and ideas, the ultimate goal of Big West Undivided is to take action, establish and maintain momentum.