CIAA relocates championship events from NC over House Bill 2
RICHMOND, VA (WWBT) - Nearly a month after the ACC announced they were moving several of their championship events out of North Carolina due to House Bill 2, the CIAA is taking similar action, moving eight of their marquee events out of the state.
During a meeting of the association's board of directors, it was decided to relocate eight of the ten North Carolina-based conference championships, calling it their "first step in demonstrating that the conference does not support laws which prevent communities from effectively protecting student-athletes and fans."
North Carolina's House Bill 2, also known as the "bathroom bill," requires individuals to use the bathroom corresponding to the gender listed on their birth certificate in government buildings, schools and universities, and initially took away the ability of employees to sue their employers in state court for discrimination or wrongful termination, among other things.
The bill has been has been a source of heated debate and led to high-profile events, such as the NBA All-Star Game and various concerts, being relocated in opposition to the legislation.
In a statement Friday, the CIAA confirmed that the following sports will have their championship venues relocated:
- Men’s Cross Country
- Women’s Cross Country
- Football
- Men’s Indoor Track & Field
- Women’s Indoor Track & Field
- Men’s Outdoor Track & Field
- Women’s Outdoor Track & Field
- Women’s Tennis
"The CIAA Board recognizes that a single decision cannot offer a complete solution to a law that prevents communities from effectively protecting student-athletes and fans attending championships and events," their statement read. "The conference intends to increase its educational efforts to eliminate biases that exclude or marginalize any human being, regardless of one's race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, or physical disability."
They add that their decision "allows the conference to fight against any measures which prevent the fulfillment of its mission to foster inclusive cultures for its student-athletes."
The conference did say the 2017 CIAA Women's and Men's Basketball Tournament will remain in Charlotte at the Spectrum Center, home of the NBA's Charlotte Hornets, explaining that relocation "would not be in the best interest of the membership and its student-athletes at this time."
"For the 2017 Basketball Tournament, the CIAA will focus its resources to enhance the student-athlete experience in-venue with collaborative efforts aligning with the Charlotte community to highlight diversity, inclusion, youth education, and leadership," the conference said.
They added that they will continue its discussion on hosting future championship events in the state and whether the tournament will stay there after 2017.
Ettrick's Virginia State University and Richmond's Virginia Union University are currently members of the CIAA.
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