It was also a "request" that UT address these issues, not an "ultimatum."
Here is the statement Eagles made:
“Okay so for all my brothers out there that are student athletes, do you really think athletics should be a man focus right now during this time that we live in? At the end of the day if that is the main focus i [sic] find you blind to the fact that your platform can change this,” Eagles tweeted. "Thousands of people come to watch for Entertainment, revenue is built from that, money is generated from us. If it wasn’t for athletics we would’t have coaches/trainers. Doctors wouldn’t perform as many surgeries, etc. the list goes on.
I’ll be damned if you think I’ll play Another snap with the platform i have that effects majority of people that contribute to the sport who don’t actually play. Know your value is all I’m saying. Athletics brings people together all over but
at the end of the day I’m not going to play another snap knowing what’s going on in our society due to color and the system being broken… i just can’t…….let’s look at the bigger picture. Don’t care if you yellow or blue that goes for every athlete/Supporter out there."
So, where is the request you speak of? That is a "do this or else" demand type statement and an ultimatum which is defined as "
a final demand or statement of terms, the rejection of which will result in retaliation or a breakdown in relations."
Here's more from
The Texas Tribune;
"Brennan Eagles, the school's sophomore wide receiver, and Brandon Jones, a senior defensive back, were among the students who posted the statement, detailing a list of actions Longhorn athletes want the university's athletics department to take. These include donating 0.5% of the department's annual earnings to the Black Lives Matter movement and black organizations, establishing a permanent black athletic history exhibit in the Athletics Hall of Fame and renaming parts of the football stadium after Julius Whittier, the first black football letterman at UT-Austin.
"In addition to demands specific to the athletics department, athletes also want UT officials to rename campus buildings named after Texans who were proponents of segregation or held other racist views, remove a statue of prominent segregationist James Hogg and discontinue the school song, “The Eyes of Texas,” which has ties to minstrel shows and was created during segregation. Other calls to action include requiring a module on the history of racism at UT and increasing outreach efforts to inner-city schools in Austin, Dallas and Houston.
"Athletes will continue to practice and participate in workouts and team activities this summer but are asking for a "plan for implementation" before the fall semester begins."
Still sounds more like demands than a mere request. This is an issue for the BoR to review and respond to. I agree that some of the issues for example, removal of Confederate statues and renaming buildings should be done and some, not all, have been removed.
Requesting donations for a non-centralized organization opens the door to a path the that leads the University away from its primary function - which is to educate and prepare leaders of the next generation. The University could support student lead initiatives to form social justice organizations, oh, right, they already do. CODE and the MEC are already existing social justice organizations currently sponsored by the University.
At the end of the day, these student athletes appear to not have immersed themselves in, or even educated themselves on, the diverse cultural environment the University of Texas offers. This is offensive to administration, faculty, alumni, and current students who worked hard to create the initiatives to lead the University on a better path of inclusion and education. Does Texas have a checkered past in regards to racism and social justice issues? Yes, I was in school there in the 70s. But good progress is slow, and considerate, and comprehensive. Capitulating to the whims of students who are not engaged with campus organizations who are working towards these goals is a reckless and irresponsible precedent, that I don't want my Alma Mater to engage in.
