As OutKick reported Thursday, the Vancouver Island University women’s basketball team refused to play its PACWEST conference opponent, Columbia Bible College, alleging the Christian school was creating a dangerous environment because VIU has a transgender player.
Vancouver Island released a statement saying its players do not feel safe playing at Columbia Bible College.
“Bullying, harassment and discrimination have no place in athletics,” the statement said, according to PK Press Club. “VIU fully supports our student-athletes and affirms the right of all athletes to compete in an environment that prioritizes their safety and well-being.”
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Columbia Bible College has denied the allegation. (iStock)
CBC immediately denied allegations that it created an unsafe environment and responded by saying it had put measures in place to increase security at games against VIU.
The allegations of “bullying, harassment and discrimination” stem from multiple incidents that occurred in late October, when the two teams faced each other for the first time this season.
Transgender Vancouver Island player Harriette Mackenzie said in an Instagram video that CBC coach Taylor Clagett went on a “tirade” to a VIU staff member to complain that the team had a man on its women’s basketball team.
Mackenzie, who leads VIU in points, rebounds and blocks and is the tallest player on the team, further said that CBC players attempted to hurt the transgender athlete with blatant and deliberate fouls.
Columbia Bible College players have written a letter denying accusations against their team and head coach.
The Christian school’s players released their own statement, signed by each player, defending their head coach and denying the accusations made by Mackenzie and VIU.
“Coach Claggett has repeatedly demonstrated respect for all athletes from diverse backgrounds throughout his youth and college coaching career. We are privileged to interact daily with Coach Claggett and “We know that the concerns she expressed are rooted in concern for the safety of her team,” the statement sent to OutKick said.
“The attack on Coach Claggett’s character and on the character of our team over the past three months is based on false information and one aspect of a complicated storyline.”
Normally, in this situation, these games would count as forfeit losses for Vancouver Island, the number 5 team in the CCAA. However, PACWEST decided to simply postpone these matches for the time being, which Columbia Bible College said represented a double standard.
General view of the rim and nets during a college basketball game between Villanova Wildcats and Providence Friars on March 2, 2024, at Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence, RI. (Mr. Anthony Nesmith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
“In the past, when a team refused to participate and travel to a scheduled game, they received 0 points in the standings. By postponing games this weekend, PacWest contradicted standard operating procedure. There is no clear justification was provided to our team to justify this departure from normal procedures,” the statement said.
It seems clear that Coach Claggett does not believe that biological males, like Mackenzie, should compete in women’s sports. This is the majority opinion of most American citizens, although Canada tends to lean more to the left than the United States. So perhaps there are fewer citizens who have this common-sense belief in the neighboring country.
But the picture painted by the CBC actors is reminiscent of the one we often see in American sports, where women defend themselves and their sports and demand that biological men compete with other men and not against women. They face harassment and calls for “bigotry” simply because they want fair competition.
It’s unfortunate that the players and coach faced “derogatory messages” because of their position, but that’s the reality. And, as CBC has pointed out, PACWEST appears to be showing favoritism toward VIU, likely because the conference fears backlash from the trans mafia if it doesn’t comply with its demands.
This is how these people often get what they want. They use intimidation tactics to force their opponents into silence. But the Columbia Bible College players decided not to keep quiet. Good for them.
