A message from the Ivy League men's and women's head basketball coaches…
 
We have heard our student-athletes' and communities' call to action. The anger, disappointment and hurt felt across our country in recent weeks has been eye-opening and inspired important conversations in our communities. This is how we will stand together to proceed forward on the path of making progress for humanity. This is our promise.
 
The Ivy Promise represents the Ivy League basketball coaches' commitment to the Black Lives Matter movement. While individually our platforms are influential, combined our platforms can be a catalyst for change. We are committed to achieving reform. We will stand against inequality and discrimination until all people are afforded the same opportunities in wages, healthcare, housing, education, and criminal justice. Together we will stand for justice, educate the people, and support our communities.
 
Our initial action items as a league are as follows:

• As the Head Coaches of Ivy League Basketball, we will use our status and privilege to be vocal advocates for equality for all.
• When possible, our programs will buy from local black and minority owned businesses to help uplift our communities economically and decrease the wealth gap.
• Our coaches and student-athletes will not only participate in All Vote No Play on November 3, but also use our voting power in local and state elections because that is where topics like criminal justice reform begin.
• We will use our games on MLK Day and during Black History Month in February to avidly celebrate Black history and Black excellence.
• Each Ivy League basketball team will donate to and volunteer with the local organizations that are working to address the specific needs of our community.

 
This is just the beginning.
 
Coaches Q & A - Dayna Smith, Cornell Women's Basketball:

1. Why is the Ivy Promise important to you?
   The Ivy Promise is so critical to the Black Lives Matter movement. It is important to hold ourselves and each other accountable, and allows us to use our platform to promote education, action and progress. The Ivy Promise provides us all with concrete steps we can and will take to ensure that we are part of the change.
    
2. What does it mean to be part of a league that supports this movement?
   I feel so very proud and fortunate to be a part of the Ivy League at this moment. The fact that the Ivy League Women's and Men's Basketball coaches and staffs can come together to support each other, our universities, our communities and our student-athletes is a credit to the character of our league and the basic fundamental foundation of higher education. 
    
3. What specific actions are you taking to hold yourself and your program accountable?
   Our program has been working on an action plan with realistic goals and timetables for achieving change. We are making it a priority to educate ourselves and develop ways to make change a part of our everyday lives. We promise to be more active in our own community, and to make sure we are exhausting every avenue to be more present as role models for change at Cornell.  

Coaches Q & A - Brian Earl, Cornell Men's Basketball:

1. Why is the Ivy Promise important to you?
   The Ivy Promise is critically important because it represents a coalition of staunch competitors that have a stake in the future of the country agreeing to take explicit action in the way we want to shape that future. We are united in sending the message that Black Lives Matter in our locker rooms and our campuses.
    
2. What does it mean to be part of a league that supports this movement?
   I am proud that the Ivy League coaches vocally support this movement – it is an integral part of my team's, my University's, my community's and my country's future.
    
3. What specific actions are you taking to hold yourself and your program accountable?
   Our team has had many chances to listen to and discuss the experiences of our minority players to promote an open dialogue within the program. We are promoting the accomplishments and projects of our black alumni and we plan on expanding our outreach to the local black community when we can gather again in person.