As a supporter of the Green Dot program and a member of the Men’s Ice Hockey team, I am writing in response to the article published in the opinions section of The College Voice on February 18th, 2015 titled; “Playing Off the Ice: A Reminder to Continue Green Dot Mission Beyond the Workshop”. We appreciate those who carry on the Green Dot initiative by being proactive because as we know, “No one has to do everything, but everyone has to do something.” We would also like to remind everyone that stigmas are fueled by assumptions and stereotypes. Those who chose to define the members of the Men’s Ice Hockey Team in a stereotypical way, do not base their opinion on facts or on having any knowledge of who we are as people. We define ourselves diversely, with many attributes contributing to our individual personalities. The partnership we have with Darcie Folsom is a result of our belief in the Green Dot mission and the sense of responsibility that goes along with it.
Our work with Green Dot, includes advocating for victims of harassment and helping them to seek out the various and appropriate resources we have here on campus. We believe in these resources and their ability to assist people in need. In addition to these resources, we are confident in our judicial process and the security it brings to our community, entrusting that when an issue is brought to light, it will be addressed appropriately. The ability of our administration to support every member of our community is only strengthened by the willingness of the student body to do what is right. The support system and policies in place exist for a reason: to ensure and maintain a safe and secure environment for all members of our community. We as a hockey team fully believe in the system we have in place at the college and will assist in any efforts to uphold these policies. The Connecticut College Men’s Ice Hockey team not only embodies, but also deeply believes in the values set forth by the Green Dot program. Whether we are referring to members of our team who are trained, or those who plan to be in the future, we all hold ourselves to a high moral standard, as do our coaches. Both the players and coaching staff have made a commitment to foster a group of inclusive and ethical individuals.
Every Green Dot graduate, whether a hockey player or not, is encouraged to support and practice the principles taught during training. As previously stated, the training is not a pledge to do everything, but rather a commitment to positively contribute to the Green Dot cause whenever possible. We’re all trying to do something, and the Green Dot hockey game is one clear way in which we as a team show our support for the program, by promoting its message and raising awareness in our community. About a third of our team is currently Green Dot trained with many more soon to be. As the Green Dot Captain for the Men’s Ice Hockey team, I am proud of that and proud of our commitment to the cause. We have found that even those without training can be just as involved in initiating positive interventions that have a lasting impact on our community. Our team’s commitment to the cause is deeply engrained in our culture and in the values of the hockey program. We encourage anyone who does not know the true dynamic of the team to familiarize themselves with us as people before making strong judgments about our character. As with any group, it is critical to remember that one person’s actions are not reflective of the group’s values. Although the typical stereotype of college hockey players may be against us, I can assure you that for our team there is a solid line that separates us from that perception. The reality is, we have a high sense of values and respectability on our hockey team and anything less is simply unacceptable. We hope that we can continue to hold one another accountable for our actions and encourage people, as the most recent article’s title states, “to carry the mission beyond the workshop” as we will do the same.
Respectfully,
Tom Conlin, Member of the Men’s Ice Hockey Team and Green Dot Captain
