Derek Van Rheenen

Black student-athletes succeeding in school doesn’t just depend on resources and inclusivity within the classroom: Athletic stakeholders such as coaches, administrators and even loyal fans all influence how educational institutions may or may not advocate for these players.

For many students on campus, athletics and fitness are a given in their everyday lives. For these visually impaired students, however, goalball often provides their first opportunity ever to participate in a competitive sport.

At its inaugural meeting on Jan. 14, the task force appointed to address concerns regarding the academic achievement of UC Berkeley’s student-athletes identified core topics and questions to be discussed this semester.

UC Berkeley Athletics Director Sandy Barbour announced on Thursday the formation of a task force to review the current academic achievements of UC Berkeley student-athletes in an effort to improve academic performances within the Intercollegiate Athletics department.

Among the 72 programs in six major college football conferences, the Cal football team had the worst graduation rate, according to NCAA statistics released Thursday.

As Barbour and the rest of the Cal administration hunted for a new head coach last winter, a commitment to academic excellence in potential candidates became just as crucial as a vision for athletic success. Enter Sonny Dykes. Dykes, the head coach at Louisiana Tech, impressed Barbour with his commitment to academics.