General

ACC Spring Unity Week to Take Place April 13-21

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – As part of the Atlantic Coast Conference’s continued commitment to diversity, inclusion, social justice and racial equity, the league has announced plans for the conference’s fourth annual Spring Unity Week, which will be held April 13-21.

ACC Unity Weeks are initiatives of the ACC’s Committee for Racial and Social Justice (CORE - Champions of Racial Equity) and have been developed in conjunction with the league’s 15 member institutions. The 2023-24 academic year will be the fourth in which the league has celebrated Unity Weeks in each of the Fall, Winter, and Spring competition seasons.

ACC athletics departments are encouraged to actively engage in activities with their campus and local communities that promote unity. Some examples include community service projects, Unity walks, Town Hall meetings, partnerships with local social justice organizations and/or civic groups, civic engagement education and celebration of institutional UNITE Award recipients.
 
“We are excited to host our fourth Spring Unity Week this week, as our Unity Weeks continue to be amazing and put a spotlight on the year-round commitment by our conference in promoting diversity and inclusion,” said ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips, Ph.D. “We celebrate the work of our schools and student-athletes for their ongoing commitment to issues surrounding racial and social justice. As a conference, we remain committed to being leaders and working with our Committee for Racial and Social Justice (CORE) to ensure we support and prioritize diversity, equity and inclusion.”
 
As part of this year’s Spring Unity Week, four of the league’s spring championships will take place including:
  • Women’s Tennis
  • Men’s Tennis
  • Women’s Golf
  • Men’s Golf
In addition to the four conference championships, the league will also see competition across several other spring sports, including baseball, men’s lacrosse, women’s lacrosse, rowing, softball, and both men’s and women’s outdoor track & field.
 
The theme for Unity Week (Fall, Winter, and Spring) during the 2023-24 academic year is “Civic Engagement”, chosen by CORE in conjunction with ACC Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) to encourage their respective community’s involvement in the lead-up to the general election in 2024. 
 
The ACC is encouraging schools to highlight the following on their campuses during the week:
  • Voting initiatives and education.
  • Active programming in the community.
  • Student-athletes using their voice to make change.
ACC’s initiatives during Unity Weeks:
  • Social media - All league social handle profile pictures will feature the ACC UNITE logo.
  • UNITE logo inclusion intermittently on ACC Network TV broadcasts.
  • Provide UNITE-themed promotional items to distribute to student-athletes and coaches.
  • ACC Network (ACCN) will conduct interviews throughout the week on the impact of Unity Week and why it is important.
  • The Conference office will focus ACCN and social media coverage on one institution per weekday throughout the three Unity Weeks throughout the year.
The Spring Unity Week schedule is as follows:
  • Monday, April 15 – Duke
  • Tuesday, April 16 – Georgia Tech
  • Wednesday, April 17 - Syracuse
  • Thursday, April 18 – Florida State
  • Friday, April 19 – Virginia
ACC Unity Statement
“We, the ACC, are committed to seeing each other as equals and treating each other with respect and dignity at all times; recognizing that our differences don’t divide us, but they make us stronger.”