Human rights and civil liberties
FILE - In this Oct. 19, 2019, file photo, Georgia coach Kirby Smart, center, talks to his players during a timeout in the first half of the team's NCAA college football game against Kentucky in Athens, Ga. There will be much interest in possible changes coming to No. 4 Georgia’s offense with a new quarterback, who is expected to be Wake Forest transfer Jamie Newman, and a new coordinator, Todd Monken. Still, Smart’s Bulldogs may lean on their experienced defense in the pandemic-delayed season. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)
Former UGa player says he experienced racism, manipulation

By Paul Newberry Sep. 23, 2020 12:52 PM EDT

University of Alabama football Coach Nick Saban speaks at a social justice rally in front of Fosters Auditorium, the sight of the famous stand in the Schoolhouse Door to voice his support for social justice Monday, Aug. 31, 2020, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Then Governor George Wallace made his famous stand in this doorway to attempt to prevent the integration of the university. Football players at Alabama staged the march and rally to support Black Lives Matter and issues of social justice. (Gary Cosby Jr./The Tuscaloosa News via AP)
Nick Saban, Alabama players hold protest march on campus

Aug. 31, 2020 07:31 PM EDT

South Carolina football taking Monday off for demonstration

Aug. 29, 2020 03:02 PM EDT
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina coach Will Muschamp said his team will forgo football activities on Monday and participate in a campus demonstration...

Chanse Sylvie, left, head coach Lincoln Riley, center, and Creed Humphrey, right, lead the Oklahoma football team from the Unity Garden after they held a 57-second moment of silence in honor of the 57-year anniversary of the March on Washington and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech, as they protest racial injustice in Norman, Okla., Friday, Aug. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
College athletes add voices to those protesting injustice

By Cliff Brunt Aug. 28, 2020 04:54 PM EDT

Members of the Baylor football team including Dave Aranda, bow their heads during a prayer after marching around campus, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, in Waco, Texas, protesting the shooting of Jacob Blake in Wisconsin. (Rod Aydelotte/Waco Tribune-Herald via AP)
Baylor, BC, Kentucky and USF call off football practices

By The Associated Press Aug. 27, 2020 09:14 PM EDT

FILE - In this March 1, 2003, file photo, University of South Carolina students head towards the 192,000-square-foot Strom Thurmond Wellness and Fitness Center in Columbia, S.C. Some of the University of South Carolina's most prominent recent athletes are calling for the renaming of the $38.6 million complex, arguing that its namesake shouldn't be glorified for his segregationist views. (Renee Ittner-McManus/The State via AP, File)
U. of South Carolina considers removing Thurmond's name

By Meg Kinnard Aug. 21, 2020 08:27 AM EDT

Dwight Hicks addresses the media during a news conference, Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020, in Novi, Mich. Hicks, is one of several Black former University of Michigan student-athletes who claim they were abused by a sports doctor who worked there for decades. Attorneys are asking the university to treat them fairly as it settles hundreds of lawsuits expected to cost the school millions of dollars. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Black victims of U-Michigan doc seek equity in settlements

By Corey Williams And Larry Lage Aug. 12, 2020 11:18 AM EDT

FILE - In this Oct. 19, 2019, file photo, TCU coach Gary Patterson watches during the first half of the team's NCAA college football game against Kansas State in Manhattan, Kan. TCU’s chancellor said coach Gary Patterson apologized Monday, Aug. 3, 2020 for repeating a racial slur when telling a player to stop using the slur in team meetings. Linebacker Dylan Jordan accused Patterson on Twitter of using the slur during a confrontation at practice (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)
TCU's Patterson sorry for repeating racial slur to player

Aug. 04, 2020 11:41 AM EDT

FILE - In this Oct. 19, 2019, file photo, TCU coach Gary Patterson watches during the first half of the team's NCAA college football game against Kansas State in Manhattan, Kan. TCU’s chancellor said coach Gary Patterson apologized Monday, Aug. 3, 2020 for repeating a racial slur when telling a player to stop using the slur in team meetings. Linebacker Dylan Jordan accused Patterson on Twitter of using the slur during a confrontation at practice (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)
TCU chancellor: Patterson apologizes for use of racial slur

Aug. 03, 2020 11:46 PM EDT

FILE - In this Oct. 19, 2019, file photo, TCU coach Gary Patterson watches during the first half of the team's NCAA college football game against Kansas State in Manhattan, Kan. TCU’s chancellor said coach Gary Patterson apologized Monday, Aug. 3, 2020 for repeating a racial slur when telling a player to stop using the slur in team meetings. Linebacker Dylan Jordan accused Patterson on Twitter of using the slur during a confrontation at practice (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)
Hatta SC vs AL Ain FC 10/19/2019

Aug. 03, 2020 11:27 PM EDT

FILE - In this Oct. 26, 2013, file photo, Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz talks with Iowa Athletics Director Gary Barta before an NCAA college football game against Northwestern at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. The Iowa football program's culture has suffered from racial bias against Black players and bullying by a small number of current and former coaches, according to an investigation report released Thursday, July 30, 2020 (AP Photo/Brian Ray, File)
Inquiry finds racial bias, bullying in Iowa football program

By Ryan J. Foley Jul. 30, 2020 10:42 AM EDT

Syracuse University appoints diversity director for sports

By John Kekis Jul. 10, 2020 02:01 AM EDT
Syracuse athletic director John Wildhack has added a position to his department, bucking a trend toward athletic cuts during the coronavirus pandemic. ...

FILE - In this Oct. 6, 2018, file photo, Oklahoma State football coach Mike Gundy runs onto the field before the team's NCAA college football game against Iowa State in Stillwater, Okla. Mike Holder, Oklahoma State’s athletic director, said late Thursday, July 2, 2020, an internal review had found “no sign or indication of racism” in the football program under Gundy after a number of players raised concerns. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki, File)
Oklahoma St finds 'no signs' of racism in football program

Jul. 02, 2020 10:15 PM EDT

FILE - In this Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019 file photo, Utah defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley looks on in the second half of an NCAA college football game against Idaho State in Salt Lake City. Utah defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley will remain on staff but will take a pay cut and must undergo diversity training after being suspended for using a racial slur in a 2013 text message. Utah announced Wednesday, July 1, 2020 that Scalley will participate in diversity and inclusion education and have his salary cut from $1.1 million to $525,000.(AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)
Utah defensive coordinator Scalley to keep job after review

Jul. 01, 2020 04:12 PM EDT

FILE - In this Sept. 28. 2019, file photo, Alabama coach Nick Saban leads the team onto the field before an NCAA college football game against Mississippi in Tuscaloosa, Ala. The Alabama football team released an emotional video Thursday, June 25, 2020, speaking out against racism and ending with the message that “all lives can’t matter until Black lives matter.” Saban and many prominent players, both Black and white, appear in the video that was written by Alabama left tackle Alex Leatherwood. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt, File)
Alabama players, Saban appear in anti-racism video

Jun. 25, 2020 08:38 PM EDT

In this April 25, 2020 photograph, a small Mississippi state flag is held by a participant during a drive-by "re-open Mississippi" protest past the Governor's Mansion, in the background, in Jackson, Miss. This current flag has in the canton portion of the banner the design of the Civil War-era Confederate battle flag, that has been the center of a long-simmering debate about its removal or replacement. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
Following athletes, NCAA takes aim at Confederate flag

By Ralph D. Russo Jun. 19, 2020 04:32 PM EDT

FILE - In this Nov. 10, 2018, file photo, Texas players sing "The Eyes of Texas" after an NCAA college football game against Texas Tech in Lubbock, Texas. A group of University of Texas football players and athletes across several sports on Friday, June 12, 2020, urged the school to rename several campus buildings, change the traditional school song and donate a percentage of athletic department revenue to organizations supporting the Black Lives Matter movement. (AP Photo/Brad Tollefson, File)
Texas president to meet with students on athletes' demands

By Jim Vertuno Jun. 15, 2020 04:02 PM EDT

FILE - In this Dec. 13, 2019, file photo, Memphis director of athletics Laird Veatch, left, presents Memphis head football coach Ryan Silverfield, right, with a team jersey in Memphis, Tenn. As football players start returning to campus, college officials have a wide range of opinions on whether to let the public know how many of their athletes test positive for coronavirus. Just over half of the 64 Football Bowl Subdivision members that responded to an Associated Press survey said they were still deciding whether to announce the number of student-athletes with positive tests.(Ariel Cobbert/The Commercial Appeal via AP, File)
Schools debate whether to detail positive tests for athletes

By Steve Megargee Jun. 14, 2020 12:01 PM EDT

FILE - In this Dec. 10, 2019, file photo, Eliah Drinkwitz is introduced as the new head football coach at the University of Missouri, in Columbia, Mo. Last week, members of the Missouri football team marched from The Columns on campus to downtown Columbia in protest of racial injustice. The idea came from sophomore safety Martez Manuel, but it quickly gained the support of new coach Eli Drinkwitz and his staff. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File)
Missouri football program pushes again for racial justice

By Dave Skretta Jun. 13, 2020 07:19 PM EDT

FILE - In this Nov. 10, 2018, file photo, Texas players sing "The Eyes of Texas" after an NCAA college football game against Texas Tech in Lubbock, Texas. A group of University of Texas football players and athletes across several sports on Friday, June 12, 2020, urged the school to rename several campus buildings, change the traditional school song and donate a percentage of athletic department revenue to organizations supporting the Black Lives Matter movement. (AP Photo/Brad Tollefson, File)
Texas athletes: Rename buildings, drop 'The Eyes of Texas'

By Jim Vertuno Jun. 12, 2020 05:39 PM EDT