Oklahoma State adds diversity council amid controversy

Posted June 24, 2020 7:00 am

The Associated Press

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) - Oklahoma State athletics announced a new diversity council Wednesday amid the fallout from football coach Mike Gundy's decision to wear a T-shirt promoting a far-right news network.

The school said Jason Kirksey, the university's chief diversity officer, will chair the new program. The council will include students, athletes and alumni. It will be housed in the university's Division of Institutional Diversity.

Star running back Chuba Hubbard, who is Black, suggested last week that he may boycott the program after Gundy was photographed wearing a shirt promoting the One America News Network, a cable channel and website that has been critical of the Black Lives Matter movement and praised by President Donald Trump. Gundy, who is white, apologized and said he was unaware of OAN's stance on Black Lives Matter.

'œWe are grateful that Dr. Kirksey has agreed to lead our efforts moving forward,'ť said Chad Weiberg, Oklahoma State's deputy athletic director. 'œThe athletic department could make a lot of promises and declarations about what we will be doing, but our future actions will speak for us. Under Dr Kirksey's leadership, we will be very intentional in our efforts, but our driving goal will be to get better.'ť

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FILE - In this Nov. 30, 2019, file photo, Oklahoma State running back Chuba Hubbard (30) carries past Oklahoma linebacker Caleb Kelly during an NCAA college football game in Stillwater, Okla. Hubbard said on Twitter that he won't do anything with the program until there is change after coach Mike Gundy was photographed wearing a T-shirt representing far-right online publication One America News Network. Gundy is seen in a photograph on Twitter wearing the T-shirt with the letters OAN. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki, File) The Associated Press

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