BLOOMINGTON — Indiana University Athletics unveiled a new social justice patch on Monday that all student-athletes will wear on gameday uniforms for the remainder of the 2020-21 seasons.
The Mark Cuban Center for Sports Media and Technology staff conceptualized the logo with the help of the IU Atheltic Director's Council for Diversity and Inclusivity.
“The players are excited about it as a sign of unity, as a sign of togetherness, peace and love that we want to promote,” Tom Allen, IU's head football coach, said.
According to Allen, the Hoosiers football uniforms will now incorporate the social justice logo on the upper right chest of the players' uniforms and the back of their helmets.
Fans will see the Hoosiers sporting the new logos as soon as Saturday when they take on Penn State at Memorial Stadium.
“I want us to be a beacon of what it looks like to love each other and care about one another, no matter where you are from, and no matter whether you have differences or not," Allen continued. "We have to be able to work together to make the world a better place, make Bloomington a better city, make the state of Indiana a better state, and have that impact across the country.”
This is not the first step the university has taken, as a whole, to combat racial inequality. IU has also made racial inclusivity training mandatory for all staff and students, and Election Day is a mandatory day off for all students from athletic-related activities.
Other IU athletic teams may also have the new social justice logo on alternative gameday apparel other than the uniforms, such as their pre-game warm-ups.
