• OVC Social Justice Resource Page | #OVCforChange Engagement Series Archive
As part of the
#OVCforChange initiative, OVC student-athletes, coaches and administrators will engage in dialogue to help shape a course of action and invoke change on a variety of social issues impacting their lives.
This week's feature is with Tennessee Tech junior linebacker
Seth Carlisle. A native of Red Boiling Springs, Tennessee, Seth had a breakout season in 2019, recording 88 tackles (7.3/game) while adding three interceptions.
Why is it important to be an advocate for social change/justice?
"It is important for me to be an advocate for social change out of love for my brothers and sisters of all ethnicities and backgrounds. I feel we all have a responsibility to stand up for what is right and treat everyone with the same love and respect that we would want to be treated with ourselves. It is terrible to think someone would be discriminated against and mistreated because of the color of their skin, but it is something that does happen in our society and it is something we should all be working to put an end to. Not only for our generation, but for generations to come."
What are the responsibilities of the individual in regard to issues of social justice?
"As an individual it is crucial that we all do our part in the fight against social injustice. It all starts with us, as individuals to stand up and do what is right. God made us all in his image, no one greater than another and that is how we should treat one another."
What should we be doing as a society to combat social inequality?
"We need to make it a point to have conversations that can help take the next step in the fight against social inequality. It is important that we all listen to and hear the problems other people face and discuss steps and ways that we can go about fixing the problems we face in today’s society. You don’t learn by not having those conversations, you learn by hearing and listening to those affected."
What other emotions would you like to express about the current state of our society?
"I just feel like it’s a problem that we should ALL be working to fix, not just those affected. As a nation, there will always be issues that people disagree on, but this is one that everyone can agree on and should come together and start working as a whole to change."