TU Student Athletes To Take Part In Unity Walk From Campus To Greenwood District

Athletes at the University of Tulsa sent a message of unity Wednesday morning.

The group of around 200 athletes took part in a march from campus all the way to the historic Vernon AME Church in Greenwood.

University of Tulsa Athletic Director Rick Dickson says the walk was a lot less about the physical activity and a lot more about staying active in the community.

"Different people, different backgrounds, different ethnicities, all of us together," he said.

TU football lineman Chris Paul says the message of togetherness is what the unity walk was all about.

“Doing things like this where we get to experience these things together is what will ultimately bring us together," he said.

Men's Basketball Coach Frank Haith says this movement helps keep Tulsa's conversations around race in motion too.

“Things have happened before, and we all get excited about making a change and doing something at that moment. But we get fatigued, and we get tired and then all of the sudden it goes away," he said.

“Our young people, they have a voice. And I think they’re utilizing their voice.”

Dickson and the TU athletes are doing that through a partnership with the Tulsa Dream Center where TU's athletes will meet with and set examples for children.

“I hope it triggers and perpetuates you know a series of awareness events. Not just discussions, now it’s time to activate," Dickson said.

He says this is just one of the many outreach activities the athletes have planned.