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It Gets Better Screencap

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NYU Athletics Releases "It Gets Better" Video

Student-Athletes, Coaches, Administrators Speak Out Against Bullying

NYU Athletics It Gets Better Video

On Monday, April 9, in conjunction with NCAA Division III Week, the New York University Department of Athletics, Intramurals and Recreation released a video in support of the “It Gets Better Project,” a movement begun to remind young lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people that despite whatever bullying they may face, they are not alone and their lives will get better. Dan Savage and Terry Miller started the “It Gets Better Project” in September 2010 in response to a number of suicides by students who were bullied in school because they either identified as or were perceived as LGBT.
 
Though other collegiate athletic departments have made “It Gets Better” videos, NYU's ground-breaking video features an openly gay student-athlete and an openly gay head coach speaking about their own experiences on camera, as well as a coach who was often perceived to be gay during his competitive career. Jay Hayes, a captain on the Violets' men's volleyball team, and Jolie Ward, head coach of the women's volleyball program, both lend their voices to the video to speak about their experiences as a gay athlete and a gay coach in collegiate athletics. In addition, Scott Donie, assistant swimming & diving coach and 1992 Olympic silver medalist, speaks about his experiences competing in a sport in which many athletes are perceived to be gay.
 
Many other NYU student-athletes, coaches and administrators also appear in the video to let young LGBT people know that being gay and being an athlete are not mutually exclusive, and that despite whatever bullying they may face now, it does get better.
 
To learn more about the “It Gets Better Project,” visit http://www.itgetsbetter.org/.

The NYU video was directed by Hayes, produced by Hayes, Peter Krasny, Mary Ellen Pesanello, and Lucas Woods. Woods also served as the Director of Photography. Bryan Fox served as Editor, with Pesanello as Assistant, with both responsible for recording dialogue. Grip and Electric was provided by Jon Annunziata. Score by Andy Stein.