Panel discussion
April 13th, 2000
Irvine 194

Summary of the arguments:

Mark Holowchak, professor of philosophy
Instead of building character, competitive sports corrupt it. Collegiate sport should be strictly amateur. College teams should receive no external support, and they should not function as farm leagues for professional teams. Let professional teams run their own minor leagues, and stop forcing college on people whose real goal is to become professional athletes.

David Carr, Physical Education & Sports Sciences Coordinator
Competitive sports do not corrupt athletes’ character. Instead, they offer valuable lessons in character development, providing valuable lessons in skills such as perseverance, dedication, and grace in victory and defeat. Many student athletes credit their athletic programs with giving them the discipline they need to keep their grades up. The college experience would be less valuable for many students without competitive sports.
Andy Kreutzer, Sports Administration Program Coordinator
Sports are valuable not just for the athletes, but for the university as a whole. Not only do they bring in money (both from alumni and from out-of-town fans attending games) and they attract better students — they also create an invaluable spirit of camaraderie in the university community. The whole university would be poorer in body and in soul without competitive sports.

Sue Bullard, NCAA Faculty Representative
Overview of role and function of the NCAA representatives. The mere fact that there is still a need for an oversight body like the NCAA suggests the current system allows and may even invite corruption. Detach sports from the university and let the professional leagues take care of player development themselves.

• Peggy Pruitt, Associate Director Internal Affairs
• Statistical overview of Ohio University’s compliance with gender equity goals as compared to other colleges and universities.
• Heather Fueger, Women’s Golf Captain, Member Student-Athlete Advisory Committee
• Student’s view of current gender equity situation at Ohio University.
• Mark Holowchak, visiting assistant professor, Philosophy

From its inception, sports has functioned as a war game. Since war was the domain of men, sports — at least “real” sports — was an male-only activity, for the most part. The intrusion of women into an area central to the definition of male character threatens men who derive their self-image from sports and sport-like activities. Gender equity will not be achieved until sports is freed from its role as a crutch for the insecure self-image of the macho.
Anne Flannery, Pupule Sports, formerly director of marketing for Spalding Worldwide’s Women’s Sports
Review of gender equity development from the 1980s to 2000, as seen through the eyes of a central participant. The development of the WNBA and women’s sports marketing. Prospects for the future.

Multi-media presentation on role of ethics in resume preparation and in first jobs.

Presented as part of Career Days 2000, in cooperation with the Ohio University Office of Career Services

Panel discussion
October 30th, 2000
Copeland Hall 104

• Mark Holowchak, Philosophy
• Fritz Hagerman, Sports Physiology

Informational presentation on ethical and practical aspects of regulating the use of performance-enhancing substances in competitive sports.

Arthur Schwartz
November 2nd, 2000
Irvine Auditorium

Public lecture on the role of applied ethics in the business world.