Dear Spartan Community,
Many of you may be aware of the situation surrounding our women’s volleyball program and the national attention it has received.
We have navigated this situation with an unwavering commitment to the safety and privacy of all our community members and all our student-athletes. It is both the right thing to do and our legal obligation.
But the troubling discourse directed at our team, particularly on social media, as a result of this national spotlight must be addressed.
We condemn any targeted campaign against any of our students, faculty, and staff based on gender, race, sexuality, or any other forms of identity and we abhor that our students would be used for political purposes. We also recognize the need to maintain the right to free expression, but categorically condemn threats or violent rhetoric targeting individuals and communities on campus and beyond. If you have any safety or bias issues to report, you can do that here.
Our athletes all comply with NCAA and Mountain West Conference policies and are eligible to play under the rules of those organizations. Our volleyball team members have earned the right to compete and we are deeply disappointed for them and with them that they are being denied those opportunities through cancellations and forfeits. We are also proud of how they have persevered through these challenges on the court.
The university continues to take measures to ensure the safety of our students as the season enters its final weeks. We remain committed to supporting them—including their mental health and physical safety, both on and off the court—during this challenging time, and we continue to work to ensure their ability to participate in an inclusive, fair, and respectful environment.
SJSU is a community of mutual care. Creating and maintaining an inclusive, welcoming, and caring environment is everyone’s responsibility. Our unwavering commitment of support extends to all students, faculty, and staff and their ability to live their lives on our campus without the threat of discrimination, harassment or violence. Our campus offers counseling and resources for our entire SJSU community. A list of some of these resources is included at the end of this message.
At San Jose State, we continue to live our institutional values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice, as well as those principles outlined in the California State University Non-Discrimination Policy.
Let’s stand together in support of our team at a challenging time.
Sincerely,
Jeff Konya
Director of Athletics
Campus Resources
For Students
- The PRIDE Center is here to support and advocate for all members of the LGBTQIA+ community, so that students feel safe, welcomed, and respected on campus
- The mission of the Gender Equity Center (GenEC) is to advocate for social justice, respect, and safety for all members of the San José State University community, by educating on issues experienced by people because of their gender and/or their perceived gender, through an intersectional lens:
- For most students, learning strategies to cope with stress can be the most important way to deal with difficult situations. The Well-being @ SJSU website and the Mindful Steps System offers a range of resources and services to help students build confidence that they can manage their stress. The Mindful Steps System is a holistic approach to student well-being, focusing on the key areas of discovery, connection, and healing. By promoting these three interconnected steps — Discover, Connect, Heal — the program emphasizes that student well-being is a multi-faceted and ongoing journey. It encourages students to be proactive about their mental health, while also ensuring they have the resources and support they need when challenges arise.
- Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) offer a safe and supportive environment for students to explore their feelings, develop coping strategies and foster personal growth. Our dedicated team supports students navigating life’s challenges with a range of services including brief individual therapy, couples and group counseling, and clinical case management for referral services. In addition, CAPS provides Same Day Services to address a student’s most immediate concern on a drop-in basis. Please call (408) 924-5678 or visit us at sjsu.edu/wellness. If students are facing an emergency after hours, we encourage students to visit this link for important resources.
For Employees
- Visit LifeMatters® for more information. Password: SPARTANS. To speak with someone from LifeMatters® confidentially, call (800) 367-7474
For All
- University Police Department
- For after-hours emergencies, please call 911. If you live on campus, please call University Police Department (UPD) at (408) 924-2222. You may also call UPD’s main number at (408) 924-5910 after hours and press 4 to connect with after-hours crisis service.
- You may also call the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing or texting 9-8-8. In addition, you may contact the Crisis Text Line by sending a text for help: Text HOME to 741741. Both lines are available 24/7.
