A team of 16 Drexel students competed in a basketball tournament on the Vidas Athletic Complex’s basketball courts to raise awareness about relationship violence Oct. 27. This basketball tournament was the final event in a month-long awareness campaign.
Throughout the month of October, the Office of Equality and Diversity has worn teal every Tuesday, which is the color associated with domestic violence awareness, calling these days “Teal Tuesdays.” OED also had a table outside at the Mario statue where members gave out information and prevention tips to students. The OED also gave out purple ribbons to staff and students.
The three-on-three basketball tournament was the big finale for this year’s campaign to promote domestic violence awareness. OED worked with Drexel University Athletics and Undergraduate Student Government Association to sponsor the event, which they called #DragonsInAction. This tournament was meant to further awareness through friendly competition.
Paul Apicella, OED’s title IX compliance specialist and Matt Collier, assistant men’s basketball coach, worked together to come up with the idea for the basketball tournament.
“Dragons In Action is an event we want to expand for next year, to include [more sporting events] because it will increase awareness and is a great way to engage the student body,” Apicella said.
Competitors also won prizes at the event. The winning team got a $400 cash prize and the second place team got a $100 cash prize. Members of Drexel University men’s basketball team were also there volunteering to keep score for the tournament.
In a bracket style tournament, 16 teams played 13-minute games against each other. The first team to obtain 11 points, or whichever team was winning at the end of the 13 minutes, won the game. After six games, the top two teams from each of the four courts advanced to the playoffs. At this point in the tournament, games were played in the style of single elimination. The semi-finals included the teams Club Bball, 6ix, Managers and Aug$. Aug$ beat the Managers, taking them out of the tournament. Club Bball and 6ix were tied at the end of the 13 minutes and had to go into overtime. Overtime was played so the next to score was the winner. After 15 minutes, Club Bball was able to score and advance to the finals.
Club Bball was first seed in the playoffs with Aug$ being fourth seed. The final game was watched by all of the teams in the tournament with everyone cheering for their respective team. Eventually, Club Bball came out with a victory of 11-3. Paul Mickle, Avery Price, and Kevin Doi were the three members of Club Bball, and were excited about their win.
“It was great being able to play basketball and win some money, but it was even better knowing it was to raise awareness about a great cause like relationship violence,” Mickle said.
Although the tournament is over, the OED has emplaced training for bystander intervention. They have asked that one member from each team in the tournament take the training. Bystander intervention training is a 90-minute training session to teach students the concept of bystander intervention. The program is also designed to develop empathy for those who have experienced sexual violence or misconduct. The OED encourages everyone to take the training.
More information about the program can be found on their website at drexel.edu/oed.