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SPORTS
12
WWW.GUILFORDIAN.COM
Purple is the new pink, time for sports to embrace it
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SPORTS EDITORIAL
BY CLARE FORRISTER
Staff Writer
Every October, a deluge of pink clothing engulfs NFL
players and fans as part of die league's breast cancer awareness
campaign.
In light of recent events surrounding the league and its
handling of bullying and domestic violence, the NFL should
make room for another color — purple.
While there is nothing wrong with spreading awareness
for breast cancer by adorning players in the color pink, the
NFL should reconsider how it goes about its breast cancer
awareness campaign.
One proposed is to designate a month for domestic violence
as well as bullying awareness and prevention, signified by
purple accessories, the color of both causes.
During October, athletes from the NFL to Guilford College
show their support for breast cancer awareness by wearing
pink cleats, socks, wristbands and more as part of their
uniforms.
"The football team collected over $250 this month," said
Chris CampoHeta, junior and comerback on the Guilford
football team, in an email interview.
"I have a fundraiser where I order bracelets and give them to
our players for donations. This year the bands say #TeamPatsy
to honor my mother, who passed away from cancer."
Campolieta and his teammates show support for the cause
by wearing pink wristbands during games.
Promoting the fight against breast cancer is a good thing
to do.
However, there are often problems with the way people
approach this cause, especially the NFL's approach.
There have been criticisms in the past that A Crucial Catch,
the NFL campaign to raise money for breast cancer outreach
and screenings, lacked transparency about how much of the
proceeds actually goes to research and how much is profit.
This, however, is not the only issue with the pink campaign.
The other problem is that this is the only kind of advocacy that
the NFL performs on such a large scale. Meanwhile, issues
which hit close to home for the NFL are neglected.
"I think (athletes wearing purple for anti-bullying) would
be great," said Chris RusiewiCz, head coach of the Guilford
football team, in an email interview. "Bullying and abuse are
happening at all levels and can be controlled with awareness."
Problems with bullying and domestic abuse are pervasive,
and the NFL is no exception. Because of the level of admiration
the public holds for professional football players, people often
turn a blind eye to their crimes.
Because of the abimdance of money the players bring to the
league, the NFL often turns a blind eye as weU.
This culture of excusing the transgressions of famous
athletes allows bullying and abuse to run rampant, from
multiple cases of domestic violence to harassment between
teammates.
"Whether they chose it or not, (players) are role models for
kids, and that means that they have an innate responsibility
to address issues," said sophomore Sadie Himter in an email
interview. "Accoimtability is so important for everyone,
including professional sports players."
The NFL needs to hold any player accountable for
reprehensible actions while dealing with underlying issues
that cause these incidents to occur in the first place.
One way to deal with underlying causes is to speak out,
both vocally and symbolically, through the use of purple
ribbons on uniforms and gear.
"I think the NFL should promote wearing purple, but not
as a way to appease the public and appear as if they are more
invested in the issue than they actually are," said first-year and
member 6f the cross-country team Sommer Faimey.
'They should promote wearing purple, dong with
resolving the issues themselves."
Despite criticisms, the campaign to wear pink makes a
difference in raising awareness and in raisiog money for the
cause, though it must lead to direct action to make a real
difference.
Similarly, if bullying and domestic violence were brought
to the public's attention with the same level of exposure as
breast cancer awareness, it could change the way people see
an issue that is often considered to be a taboo subject, but is no
less important for the weU-being of women than breast cancer
awareness.
"If it were marketed the same way as breast cancer
awareness, I think it would catch like wildfire," said first-year
and member of the cross-country team Amaris Qay.
"If that were to become a thing, I would definitely wear
purple. I mean, I might start doing it now."
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