Hayes, Wisconsin athletes of color speak out against racial discrimination on campus

Athletes are cheered on the field, but “subjected to racial discrimination in our everyday lives.”

Wisconsin senior forward Nigel Hayes and other black Badger student-athletes called on the school’s leaders to take action against racial discrimination on campus in a message posted Monday night on Twitter. 

Wisconsin athletes “are loved during competition, but then subjected to racial discrimination in our everyday lives,” the statement tweeted by Hayes and others read. It highlighted a recent incident where a fan at a football game on campus was spotted dressed as Barack Obama, wearing a mask with a noose around his neck. 

Racial issues are not limited to the University of Wisconsin, the statement said, and “universities across the nation need to start addressing how students of color are treated.” The athletes called on university chancellor Rebecca Blank to take a more active role in addressing such issues. 

Hayes has also been outspoken about the NCAA’s exploitation of student-athletes in recent weeks.