File #: RS2022-1762    Name:
Type: Resolution Status: Passed
File created: 8/30/2022 In control: Metropolitan Council
On agenda: 9/6/2022 Final action: 9/6/2022
Title: A resolution recognizing Fisk University on launching the first-ever Historically Black Colleges and Universities Intercollegiate Women's Artistic Gymnastics Team.
Sponsors: Sharon Hurt, Burkley Allen, Freddie OConnell, Brandon Taylor, Delishia Porterfield, Russ Bradford, Tom Cash, Thom Druffel, Erin Evans, Jennifer Gamble, Larry Hagar, Tonya Hancock, Angie Henderson, Courtney Johnston, Antoinette Lee, Mayor's Office, Kathleen Murphy, Bob Nash, Sean Parker, Russ Pulley, Kevin Rhoten, Mary Carolyn Roberts, Dave Rosenberg, John Rutherford, Sandra Sepulveda, Colby Sledge, Joy Styles, Zulfat Suara, Kyonzte Toombs, Nancy VanReece, Brett Withers, Zach Young
title
A resolution recognizing Fisk University on launching the first-ever Historically Black Colleges and Universities Intercollegiate Women's Artistic Gymnastics Team.

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WHEREAS, Fisk University is a highly ranked Historically Black University and is the oldest institution of higher learning in Nashville, Tennessee. The outstanding faculty and students continue to enhance the University's international reputation for academic excellence; and

WHEREAS, in February 2022, Fisk announced the formation of its inaugural gymnastics team, "The Bulldogs", making the university the first Historically Black Colleges and Universities ("HBCU") to have an intercollegiate women's gymnastics program; and

WHEREAS, in August 2022 the team hosted its first formal practice, which was captured on video and posted to TikTok. This video has gone viral, garnering nearly 800,000 views and more than 200,000 likes; and

WHEREAS, the team is led by Fisk University Athletic Director and Head Gymnastics Coach Corrinne Tarver, who was herself a U.S. National Team gymnast and a national gymnastics champion at the University of Georgia; and

WHEREAS, for Coach Tarver, taking on the historic team as Head Coach is a continuation of her barrier-breaking gymnastics career, as she was the first Black gymnast to attend the University of Georgia and win an NCAA all-around title; and

WHEREAS, since Fisk announced their gymnastics program, Coach Tarver has been highly successful in her recruitment efforts, including landing 18-year-old freshman Zyia Coleman of Atlanta, Georgia, a life-long gymnast; and Morgan Price of Lebanon, Tennessee, a 16-year-old 5-Star gymnast who decommitted from the University of Arkansas to attend Fisk University; and

WHEREAS, the season starts in January and the Fisk University Bulldogs expect to compete against other collegiate teams this season from across the country, including teams from George Washington University, Towson University, and the University of Michig...

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