Mensah Makes a Difference
By Toby Lough
 
On June 5, 11 days after the death of George Floyd, as protests took place across the country, VCU Soccer player Andy Mensah received an email in his inbox. VCU Vice President and Director of Athletics Ed Mclaughlin was seeking to reestablish the department's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committee. McLaughlin put out a call for leadership from student-athletes, coaches and administrators.
 
Mensah's eyes lit up. A redshirt junior, he knew his time with the Rams was limited, and he saw an opportunity to leave a lasting impact on the department. It's not the first time he's followed that instinct. Mensah also serves on VCU's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).
 
"When I came to VCU as a freshman, there were a lot of leaders in the SAAC organization and now the DEI, the new organization, but I didn't really see that many black student-athlete leaders in these organizations," Mensah said. "I think in order to enact change, we need to a have seat at the table, and we need our voices to be heard. I just wanted to be that guy in our athletic department."
 
The DEI committee includes 25 representatives from around the VCU Athletic Department. Mensah is one of seven student-athlete representatives. In a university press release announcing the re-establishment of the committee, McLaughlin shared his vision for what its members would be working to accomplish.
 
McLaughlin challenged the committee to "conduct an honest assessment as to how African-American and Black employees and student-athletes are valued within VCU Athletics," according to the release.
 
"The committee is dedicated to creating a culture of inclusivity through courageous conversations on topics of social justice and human rights, continuous social justice training, education, awareness and advocacy and recruitment and retention of under-represented student-athletes, coaches and staff," McLaughlin said.
 
The committee got to work quickly. They partnered with SAAC to create the "Rams Vote" a campaign centered around increasing voter turnout among the VCU student population.
 
In August, DEI held a town hall with the VCU Police Department in order to address concerns in their on- and off-campus communities. The committee is also working to organize participation among student-athletes and coaches in the Richmond Unity walk. The reflective walk will commemorate the 57^th anniversary of the March on Washington.
 
"We want to be able to be a voice for the people in our athletic organization that might not have had a voice in the past," Mensah said.
 
DEI members are not just focused not just on facilitating change at their university, but making a difference in their community as well. Members organized a school-supply drive for children in the Richmond area.
 
The formation of the committee has set VCU apart from other colleges and universities by giving student-athletes and university employees a seat at the table to facilitate internal change.
 
"First and foremost, the re-formation of the DEI says that our school, VCU as a whole, embodies diversity and values diversity of thought," Mensah said. "That is the same thing with our student-athletes, same thing with our coaches. I think Ed [McLaughlin] is doing a wonderful job of sending the message to everyone else who's on the outside, because on the inside we all know we're diverse… but now we're actually showing it to the world and being an example to the world about how beautiful diversity can be."
 
The committee is comprised of people from a variety of races and backgrounds, each with their own unique perspective. To better understand the differing views among the representatives and in an effort to foster growth, members began a monthly book club to read and discuss prominent novels that explore social justice topics. In September, they read "White Fragility" by Robin DeAngelo.
 
"Most of us grew up in the educational system in America and a lot of what was taught to us or me personally, I didn't really learn that much about black history. I think it's important, even as a black man in America, to know your history…being comfortable talking about history and about the uncomfortable is what these books are accomplishing."
 
The DEI committee aims to be representative of all members of the student body and seeks to build an athletic department that reflects that diversity.
 
The monthly book discussion is open to all VCU students. Mensah encourages students to come and provide their views on book topics and share their experiences as a student at VCU.
 
"I think one of the biggest problems right now as a country is the inability to understand where we're all coming from," he said. We're so polarized, and I think at DEI what we are trying to do is bridge that gap and be able to discuss and have these uncomfortable conversations."
 
Student-athlete-led initiatives at universities have faced some challenges in the past as the students are typically only a member of their university community for four years. While getting involved in leadership opportunities often results in tremendous individual growth, the actual impact some are trying to make in their community can fizzle out over time as new generations of students set foot on campus. Mensah, however, is determined to ensure the change he is making through the DEI committee will impact future generations at his university well after he steps off campus for the final time.
 
"I want VCU to be known as safe space for student athletes around the country," he said. "I want VCU to be an example to other college programs around the country. Prioritizing not just the athletic ability of our athletes, but the overall athlete. They're a person first and an African-American first before they are an athlete. I think a lot of schools around the country need to do a better job, and I hope VCU can be an example."