Dear Huskies,
The adversity we have faced, both as an institution, as well as a department over the last several months has been significant, but in true Huskie fashion, we have faced it head on.

To use a track analogy, this year's Huskies Invest: The Campaign is a mile, not the sprint we have become accustomed too over the last several years. We kick-started and transformed our annual Huskies Invest Week of Giving into Huskies Invest: The Campaign back in September with our first Huskies Invest Virtual Golf Outing that wrapped up on Homecoming weekend. Congratulations to Dennis and Jason Barsema, Dave Heide and Matt McLaughlin for winning the inaugural event, and to Cindy Crocker for winning longest drive as she put together a great team to play in Massachusetts. 

With approximately three weeks remaining, I am thrilled that we have already eclipsed the total amount raised from any of our previous years' efforts. Currently, we are well on our way to $400,000 with more than 750 gifts received which is more than double previous high-water marks for our department. We have received support from 150 NEW donors during The Campaign, which gives us tremendous momentum as we solidify the sustainability of the department.

I cannot tell you how much every one of these gifts means to our programs and our COVID-19 relief efforts. Your support has come at perhaps the most pivotal time in the history of our department. Saying THANK YOU seems inadequate; please know that we love you and appreciate the way that Huskie Nation has stepped up in a true time of need.
 
Since our student-athletes returned to campus and subsequently to practice, their continued health and well-being has been our department's top priority. While dealing with this pandemic that has affected so many of us, issues of racial unrest and social justice also have risen to the forefront  – throughout our country, on the NIU campus and certainly in the consciousness of our student-athlete population.

An emphasis on Diversity and Inclusion is not new for NIU Athletics. In fact, we have led diversity and inclusion efforts on the local, regional and national levels. Back in May 2014, I co-led a group of 16 faculty and staff on the NIU Diversity and Inclusion Task Force, which was formed to review and expand NIU's diversity and inclusion efforts. That same year, NIU Athletics instituted the Diversity Integration Group (DIG) to ensure that everyone, regardless of minority or protected class, was welcomed and accepted, both within the department and at our events. 

Diversity and inclusion are woven into the very fabric of Northern Illinois University, and of NIU Athletics. I firmly believe that as a department, we have supported, demonstrated leadership – and educated – Huskie student-athletes and staff as well as other proactive, leading departments in the country on these important issues. After the events of the summer, including the protests throughout the country, I asked Courtney Vinson, Senior Associate Athletic Director for Sport Administration, along with the D.I.G. to modify our existing strategic plan and create a social justice action plan to help our coaches, staff, and student-athletes navigate this challenging time. A few of the efforts which have been implemented this year are:
    •  Athletics Social Justice Education. We have provided education on the history of race relations and social justice in our country. With many of our student-athletes witnessing this type of activity and unrest for the first time, it is important to give them a historical perspective. 
    •  Mental Health Check-Ins. Between dealing with the loss of competitions and even practices due to the pandemic, along with the growing racial tension, providing student-athlete with continuing check-ins gives them an opportunity to work through their feelings with professional counselors. 
    •  Town Hall Meetings. In addition to the regularly scheduled all staff meetings (now virtual), we have been able to provide education and support to our coaches and staff by using Town Hall forums with specific programming on Diversity and Inclusion.

As a part of our Social Justice Education Plan, our student-athletes created the NIU Student-Athlete Diversity and Inclusion Committee. This student-athlete led group wanted to lend their voice and actions to promote positive change on our campus. Their first initiative was to bring all Huskies together in the name of unity and humanity through the Student-Athlete Unity March and Rally. On Saturday, October 10, I was honored to participate in the march with our student-athletes, coaches, staff, Greek life, and other NIU community members.  As we sat on the east grass outside Huskie Stadium listening to members of the Student-Athlete Diversity and Inclusion Committee speak about basic human decency and rights, I was proud to see our young people express themselves honestly and boldly. They tasked their fellow Huskies to do their part to help in creating a welcoming environment for everyone.

As one of the speakers at the Student-Athlete Unity March and Rally stated, we come from different places and backgrounds; we will have different experiences and opinions, which is okay, because we are not looking for uniformity.  The critical piece here is that we continue to work collaboratively while respecting one another as people, regardless of our differences. I have seen this exhibited throughout my time at NIU, and I am thankful that I have the opportunity to serve at a place where our faculty, Community Counseling Training Center, Department of Police and Public Safety, and Office of Academic, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion come together with us to provide education and support to NIU student-athletes. This is an example of how we strive to cultivate and promote a diverse and inclusive community and make NIU a place where all are welcome.

Unfortunately, due to the coronavirus, we will be unable to welcome fans at any of our 2020 home football games or non-conference basketball games this year. We will miss you and the excitement you bring to the stadium on game day, and know you will be at home, showing that same support.

I can tell you that Coach Hammock and his team are ready to go! There has been a new energy at practice. This group, which includes 57 newcomers led by some experienced veterans, is working hard, flying around and having fun playing football. Many of the names will be new, so be sure to download the new NIU Huskies mobile app and get the roster, live statistics, links to the radio broadcast and more.

We're also less than a month away from basketball season with both the NIU men's and women's teams scheduled to open their seasons at home on November 25^th.  Men's basketball won 18 games last year, the sixth-best win total in program history, and won a share of the MAC West Division title. Mark Montgomery's team returns eight letterwinners and added six newcomers that will compete in an expanded 20-game MAC schedule.

After graduating five seniors from the 2019-20 team, women's basketball head coach Lisa Carlsen has a young core to build around in sophomores Chelby Koker, A'Jah Davis, and Grace Hunter who all saw significant playing time last season. The Huskies return eight letterwinners from last season to go with five newcomers and they'll also play a 20-game MAC slate.

I'm fired up to see all three of these teams, along with the NIU women's cross country team which will compete for a MAC Championship this fall.  They are coming off a runner-up finish in the team race a year ago behind MAC Champion Ashley Tutt and are ready to take another run at that team title! 

I know that you are as ready for NIU sports to return – safely – as I am. You have shown by your commitment to Huskies Invest how much NIU Athletics, and supporting our student-athletes, means to you. Thank you again for all of your support and …

Go Huskies!
 
Sean T. Frazier
Associate Vice President/Director of Athletics