STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: KENNETH BAUMAN

Student Spotlight:

KENNETH BAUMAN

KENNETH BAUMAN

While talking to cheerleader Kenneth Bauman, I discovered the true meaning of diligence. Kenneth, who is a second-year psychology major, exemplifies how he learned from his past experiences in order to make a difference on campus for minority groups. Since coming out when he was 11, Kenneth has slowly become grounded in what it means to be a part of the LGBTQ+ community in athletic spaces. Due to troubling homophobic experiences on his former baseball team, Kenneth landed in cheerleading after discovering his passion for tumbling. A few years later, he was accepted into UofM as a first-generation college student and made the coed cheerleading team.

Kenneth has been tasked to overcome a variety of obstacles. Most recently, a concussion in September of this year. This concussion is the fourth he has suffered in his cheerleading career. While speaking about his injuries, he is grateful that he is close to a full recovery despite managing to heal while taking 16 credits this past semester. During our interview, Kenneth also talked about the mentality change when coming back from an injury. He exclaimed, “Coming back from any injury is difficult because you are not the same athlete that you once were.” Due to this change and the rigors of attending UofM, he wishes the university did more top provide access to more resources during his recovery period.

In addition to this, Kenneth, like many other queer athletes, feels the absence of a safe space. While he did mention that the cheer team is very inclusive and welcoming, he still yearns for the university to do more for minority groups on campus. Due to this, Kenneth has become passionate about creating a place of refuge. Most recently, he has been working to start a chapter of Athlete Ally here on the UofM campus. This club works to establish a safe space for both queer athletes and allies to speak about issues related to LGBTQ+ underrepresentation, safety, and inclusivity. In the near future, Kenneth is hoping to become the chairman or even the President of this group.

Kenneth, who is a light to everyone around him, works to spread positivity and advocate for those around him. He works confidently toward his goals and truly does his part to make a difference on campus. When talking about his passion, he mentioned this quote: “No one of us can be free until everyone is free” by Maya Angelou. Like many others, Kenneth wants to make a difference in all minority communities on campus. This is what makes him truly kind and diligent.

WRITER JORDYN HARDY PHOTOGRAPHER JORDYN HARDY GRAPHIC DESIGNER KIMI LILLIOS