MONTGOMERY – Governor Ivey has sent a letter to the Alabama High School Athletic Association Executive Director Alvin Briggs to express her concern for the alleged treatment of the Oakwood Adventist Academy and to demand answers. Additionally, Governor Ivey has sent a letter to the principal of Oakwood Adventist Academy to stand in solidarity with the team and to praise these young men for standing firm in their convictions.
Oakwood Adventist high school basketball team, of Huntsville, Alabama plans to forfeit playoff game scheduled during Sabbath
The team has asked the Alabama High School Athletics Association to change the time twice. Their request was denied each time.
Mr. Alvin Briggs
Executive Director
Alabama High School Athletic Association
P.O. Box 242367
Montgomery, AL 36124-2367
Dear Mr. Briggs:
I am writing to express my profound concern—and to get some answers—about the alleged treatment of Oakwood Adventist Academy at the Class IA Boys’ Northeast Regional Basketball Semi-Finals this past weekend.
According to news reports, the AHSAA denied Oakwood a very modest accommodation of its religious beliefs. The school’s basketball team was scheduled to play at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday afternoon for a chance to make the regional finals. But for Oakwood’s players and coaches, that time slot presented a problem: It conflicted with their observance of the Sabbath, from sundown Friday evening to sundown Saturday.
Although Oakwood’s opponent and the two teams set to play during the 7:30 p.m. game all reportedly were willing to swap time slots, I’ve read that the AHSAA denied Oakwood’s simple request—not once but twice. And the result, for the team, was surely agonizing: It was forced either to play a game against the dictates of its players’ and coaches’ faith or to forfeit the game entirely, and thereby lose the chance to continue a hard-fought and hard-earned successful season.
As I’m sure you know, few things are more important to Alabamians than their faith. And from my perspective as Governor, this is a very good thing. Sincere faith brings Alabamians together. It is a source of comfort during times of challenge. And it drives Alabamians to make their communities better. Indeed, a sincere commitment to faith is one of the defining hallmarks of our great State.
With all of this in mind, I hope you’ll understand why I was most disturbed to read about Oakwood’s alleged treatment at the AHSAA’s basketball tournament—and why this episode raises some very pressing questions, not only for me but for public officials and citizens across our great State:
- Is the public narrative about Oakwood’s treatment accurate?
- If so, how was this treatment allowed to occur?
- Which AHSAA employees were responsible for making this decision? Were any board members consulted about the decision before it was made?
- Were any other external stakeholders consulted before the decision was made? What discussions were had, and what communications were exchanged, by the responsible AHSAA employees before making the decision?Did the decision to deny Oakwood a religious accommodation violate any existing AHSAA policies? Or was the denial of a religious accommodation for Oakwood permissible under AHSAA’s existing policies?
- Were you or other AHSAA officials aware of how Oakwood’s treatment would be perceived by the Oakwood basketball team members and coaches? If not, why did you not factor this into your decision deny Oakwood a simple religious accommodation?
- Were you or other AHSAA officials aware of how Oakwood’s treatment would be perceived by the Alabama taxpayers who support and subsidize AHSAA’s operations? If not, why did you not factor this into your decision to deny Oakwood a simple religious accommodation?
- How can we as a State ensure that something like this never occurs again?
I am reaching out to Oakwood’s leadership to better understand the school’s and team members’ perception of these troubling events. I hope that you will respond promptly as well, so that the AHSAA’s views may be appropriately represented as reforms are considered in the coming days and weeks.
Sincerely,
Kay Ivey
Governor
Ms. Judy Chiles-Dent
Principal
Oakwood Adventist Academy
7000 Adventist Blvd NW
Huntsville, AL 35896
Dear Ms. Chiles-Dent:
I am writing to express solidarity with your boys’ basketball team for its alleged treatment at the AHSAA Class IA Boys’ Northeast Regional Basketball Semi-Finals this past weekend. The idea that a team like Oakwood could be denied a chance to compete based on its faith—without even the most modest of accommodations—is deeply concerning.
One bright spot in the coverage of these events was the sentiment of team captain Raynon Andrews, who said he hopes that this unfortunate experience will lead to change so that something like this won’t ever happen again. I wholeheartedly agree.
To that end, I would like to invite you and the players and coaches of your boys’ basketball team to the Capitol to meet with me at your earliest convenience. Most importantly, we need to celebrate the team ‘s hard-earned achievements this season, which culminated in securing a playoff spot. But I also want to hear about the team’s experience at the AHSAA tournament. In that way, I will be able to work with others in state government and the athletics community to ensure a situation like this never happens again.
Please convey to your team members and their coaches how proud I am of them for sticking to their beliefs. Their selfless display of sportsmanship in attending the playoff games at Jacksonville State University, despite their forced forfeit, to cheer on those teams who so graciously agreed to accommodate your team’s Sabbath observance, is an inspiring example to competitors and athletes everywhere. These young men, both on your team and on the other affected teams, are worthy ambassadors for their schools and their communities.
On a personal note, I know that my faith has brought me both comfort and strength throughout my life. I am encouraged that the young men on your basketball team understand the importance of prioritizing their faith over the things of this world. That they have been instilled with this maturity at such early ages will serve them well beyond their playing days.
Judy Chiles-Dent
February 22, 2022
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I know this is a disappointing way to end a season after what must have been a great deal of hard work and sacrifice by your team to make it to the playoffs. I hope, together, we can make some good come out of it.
Sincerely,
Kay Ivey
Governor
