Football as a Catalyst to Illuminate Issues of Black Student Engagement

Athletics has played an important role in the integration and connection students have with their college alma mater. However, research shows that Black students do not readily attend athletic games or participate in related events. Findings from this study indicated that Black students engaged in football-related activities and the campus community, but in ways that did not stimulate further or continued participation in the larger campus community. This study advances our understanding of how and why Black students engage in football games at Hartwell University, and to identify leverages to improve their success in addressing the social and communal needs of diverse students on campus.