UCLA athlete Chris Weiland was dismissed Monday from the cross country and track & field team after video of him making racist, sexist and homophobic comments surfaced across social media platforms Sunday.
Weiland, a Rancho Cucamonga High graduate, was heard talking to his mother on the phone during the video while making the remarks.
“When first learning of this a few months ago, I was disgusted and immediately suspended him indefinitely from the team,” said Avery Anderson, UCLA’s Director of Track and Field and Cross Country, in a statement. “Even in my disgust, as a coach, my intentions are always to lead and educate and make the change happen that I want to see in this world.
“I can talk about changing the world, or I can put in the work to do so. And that is what I have done over the last few months with this individual.”
Anderson made the decision to reinstate the redshirt junior back into the program in January before “team members and the athletic community” expressed their concern.
UCLA’s Black Student-Athletes Alliance issued a statement Monday on Instagram asking for Weiland’s removal for the team.
“As a university that champions itself on the accomplishments of its Black athletes that have broken the barriers of social justice, we find it deeply disturbing to learn that UCLA knew about an incident of blatant racism, homophobia and sexism and did very minimal actions about it. The racist actions that took place by a member of the cross country team, are unacceptable and disrespectful, and we at BSAA refuse to accept the actions of that athlete, as well as the lack of action to address the issue by the coaches, staff and administration. We do not feel safe with this person on campus, and we demand UCLA athletics take action immediately and remove this student from the team.”
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson, gymnast Margzetta Frazier and women’s basketball player Michaela Onyenwere were among the current UCLA athletes with verified Instagram accounts who commented “@uclaathletics” on BSAA’s post to bring attention to the university’s athletic department.
“It became clear that his continued involvement with the team is incompatible with the culture of mutual support and respect we’re fostering,” Anderson said in the statement. “I now realize that the decision to reinstate him was not the right decision, and that the action today is best for the well-being of our team.”
Weiland’s name and biography were removed from the university’s athletic website.
His photographs, including one in a UCLA jersey with a Black Lives Matter patch, was deleted from the cross country team’s Instagram.
Weiland competed for Bruins in the Dave Murray Invitational on Feb. 19 in Tucson.
Former UCLA women’s soccer player Kaiya McCullough was among the alumni to speak out on social media.
“As a Black student-athlete alumni that has stood diligently against racism and bigotry in all forms, I am APPALLED that this behavior is not only being excused, but covered up by your departments,” McCullough tweeted before the announcement to dismiss Weiland was announced. “To allow Chris Weiland to continue to participate in competition and maintain his enrollment at @UCLA is a stark contrast to the values that UCLA and your department claim to uphold.
“Allowing this behavior to go unpunished is a clear message to your Black students and student-athletes about your stance on racism and hate. I am disgusted by the inaction exhibited by the administration, and the continued trauma you are putting your Black students and student-athletes through by not . DO BETTER. This is precisely why I kneeled for 3 years ON CAMPUS.”
.@UCLATrack_Field‘s Avery Anderson has a passion to help.
He shows it in the way he makes every athlete feel like family.That’s what motivated the former Bruin to publicize a letter last week asking his team to remain positive during such unrest.https://t.co/uLFJ3Ohj0W
— Maggie Vanoni (@maggie_vanoni) June 11, 2020
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