CSR (U-M Professor to Speak on Sports and Race, April 19)

(The following release was prepared by Calvin Director of Media Relations Phil
de Haan)

The Calvin HPERDS department (Health, Physical Education, Recreation, Dance and
Sport) will sponsor an interesting talk on April 19 at 7:30 pm in the Commons
Lecture Hall.

Dr. C. Keith Harrison is a professor at the University of Michigan and director
of The Paul Robeson Research Center for Academic and Athletic Prowess at the
university. He will speak at Calvin on sports and race, a topic that got a lot
of attention in recent weeks in light of comments made regarding Notre Dame and
black athletes. He also will show a documentary on the topic.

A lot of Harrison's research is on the effects of sport media and entertainment
imagery on student-athletes in society, both contemporary and historically.

The Robeson Center was created "to challenge the current paradigm by some in
the African American community that scholarship and sporting achievement must
be separate. The goals of the Robeson Center are to research issues affecting
African American student athletes and to emphasize holism in education and
athletics. In order to achieve these goals the Center will promote balance by
reestablishing the historical perseverance and triumph of early black pioneers
in academics and sport. The Center will strive to increase awareness that
academic success is a sign of prowess for all student athletes."

The talk at Calvin will be the kick-off for a special day the HPERDS department
will have on April 19 to celebrate their major and teach students about the
possible careers, etc for HPERDS majors.

Harrison can be reached at (734) 763-9574 or ckharris@umich.edu

Jim Timmer Jr. is the contact person at Calvin at 526-6037 or jrt3@calvin.edu

Jeff Febus
Sports Information Director
Calvin College
(616) 526-6169 Office
(616) 526-8551 Fax
Received on Thu Apr 8 22:16:42 2004