The Judges of Brandeis University join You Can Play in working for equality for all – including LGBT athletes, fans and coaches – in sports. Named for Louis Brandeis, the first Jewish US Supreme Court justice, the Waltham, Massachusetts university's nickname is the Judges – with Ollie the Owl serving as the schools' mascot (named for Supreme Court justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.).
The Brandeis statement accompanying its video: Whether on the field, court, pool, strip or track, Brandeis athletes are a family. It is this sense of family that spurred Brandeis University to join the You Can Play Project, a social activism campaign dedicated to ensuring quality, respect and safety for all athletes regardless of sexual orientation.
Brandeis videographer Allison Milligan, in collaboration with the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, produced a short video showcasing each of the 19 Judges varsity teams and their pledge to fight discrimination inside and outside the athletic arena.
Opening with a quote from the university’s namesake, Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis, the production affirms Brandeis’ commitment to providing a supportive environment for LGBTQ student-athletes.
“I am extremely proud of our student-athletes for their participation in this project,” said Director of Athletics Sheryl Sousa ’90. “This is an important message that the entire Brandeis community can support.”