Latest Spread Respect Nights Continue America East's Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion
BOSTON – Continuing its dedication to fostering leadership on and off the field, the America East Conference and its member institutions will again conduct #SpreadRespect nights at upcoming basketball games. It will be the fourth-straight year each America East men’s and women’s program will host a #SpreadRespect night.
#SpreadRespect games, formerly branded You Can Play Nights, were created with the purpose of furthering awareness and education to ensure equality, respect and safety for all athletes without regard to sexual orientation or gender identity. That respect also extends to race, ethnicity, gender, religion and more.
“We are proud to be a leader and trailblazer among collegiate conferences when it comes to creating conversation and promoting awareness around diversity and inclusion,” said America East Commissioner, Amy Huchthausen. “Our #SpreadRespect events highlight the dedication our member institutions’ student-athletes, coaches and staffs show towards respecting everyone, regardless of who they are or what they believe in.”
America East Spread Respect 2018 Basketball Events
Albany: Feb. 5 (WBB vs. UMass Lowell); Feb. 24 (MBB vs. Maine)
Binghamton: Jan. 31 (MBB vs. Vermont); Feb. 3 (WBB vs. Maine)
Hartford: Jan. 31 (WBB vs. New Hampshire); Feb. 11 (MBB vs. Albany)
Maine: Jan. 28 (WBB vs. UMBC); Feb. 3 (MBB vs. Binghamton)
UMBC: Jan. 27 (MBB vs. Maine); Feb. 8 (WBB vs. Binghamton)
UMass Lowell: Jan. 27 (MBB vs. Hartford); Feb. 11 (WBB vs. Vermont)
New Hampshire: Jan. 27 (WBB vs. Binghamton); Feb. 11 (MBB vs. UMBC)
Stony Brook: Jan. 31 (MBB vs. UMBC); Feb. 5 (WBB vs. Binghamton)
Vermont: Feb. 8 (WBB vs. Albany); Feb. 11 (MBB vs. UMass Lowell)
This fall, America East unveiled a new 30-second institutional spot, featuring student-athletes asking friends, fans and teammates to #SpreadRespect.
America East has conducted You Can Play nights since 2015 after becoming the first Division I Conference to partner with the organization in 2012. Since then, the conference has helped further You Can Play’s mission by sponsoring a speaker series and locker-room campaigns on its members' campuses in addition to You Can Play nights and creating videos to educate the general public. In 2016, America East’s You Can Play nights were featured in USA Today.
The conference also partnered with LGBT SportSafe in 2016, becoming the first conference in the organization’s Founders’ Club, and sponsored educational programming on each of its campuses. LGBT SportSafe provides training to educate coaches, athletic administrators and recreational sports staff on best practices and policies in creating an LGBTQ inclusive athletic community.
Additional #SpreadRespect events will take place during the spring season.
#SpreadRespect is one of several leadership initiatives under the conference’s #3Pillars, including its #AEThingksHealthy campaign, Alumni Network, #3PAcademy and the #AEFoodFrenzy.
About America East: The America East provides its member schools and their athletic programs a platform upon which student-athletes can achieve both collegiate and life success through the promotion and nurturing of athletic excellence, academic achievement and leadership, on and off the field.
- #3Pillars – Building the Complete Student-Athlete -