Pitt football taught Ron Idoko lessons that still impact him long after he’s finished playing.

Pitt’s Bradford campus, the Office for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, the Center on Race and Social Problems and the Black Action Society sponsored Thursday afternoon’s panel “The Black Impact: Black Faculty and Administrators’ Influence on Black Student Success.”

Pitt’s Student Government Board and Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion hosted the Thursday evening’s panel “What the F*ck? Unfiltered Conversations About Diversity and Inclusion Between Students, Staff and Administration” with students and staff.

Two Pitt diversity offices hosted a panel Wednesday afternoon focusing on the history of Native people in and around Pittsburgh, as well as examining the COVID-19 pandemic’s effect on Native communities.

Morgan Ottley, the president of the Black Action Society, said one of her organization’s main goals is to push for transparency from Pitt. She said the University’s new social justice website is a good place to start.

The town hall, part of Pitt’s Mental Health Awareness Month, focused on mental health at Pitt, particularly how it’s been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement.

Pitt’s Title IX office has implemented controversial new federal Title IX regulations — meeting the federal government’s Aug. 14 deadline — despite strong opposition from some University officials. Carrie Benson said she has many concerns about the new rules, but her office will comply with them.

The panel focused on hate crimes perpetrated against Asian Americans and minorities within the United States, particularly the complexities of assimilation. Several audience members asked questions ranging from how to combat racist or xenophobic remarks from people in positions of authority to ways the Pitt community can combat anti-Asian sentiment this upcoming academic year.

Wednesday’s “Toxic Recipe: The Historical Ingredients of American Inequity” was an installment of the “This is Not Normal: Allyship and Advocacy in the age of COVID-19” virtual town hall series.

Pitt announced Thursday that Clyde Wilson Pickett has been named the University’s new vice chancellor for diversity and inclusion.