NEWS RELEASE, 4/1/97 Sports and ethics conference will address moral issues in a public forum at UC Berkeley, April 12

by Patricia McBroom

Berkeley -- Moral values and contemporary American sports will be the subject of a one-day conference to be held April 12 at the University of California at Berkeley. Homophobia, gender equity and the capacity of athletes to be good role models are among the subjects to be addressed at the Ethics and Sport Conference, which began as a small discussion group and has blossomed into an international event. The meeting is free and open to the public. Invited speakers include "dream team" member Kevin Johnson, a one-time Cal basketball star who plays for the Phoenix Suns, Joan Ryan, author of "Little Girls in Pretty Boxes," and Carole Oglesby, a member of the U.S. Olympics Committee. Basketball athlete and author Mariah Burton Nelson, formerly at Stanford University, will give the keynote address in the morning. Her books include "The Stronger Women Get, the More Men Love Football," and "The American Culture of Sports." The keynote will be followed by lectures and discussions where speakers will introduce ethical issues and participants will formulate strategies for resolving them. Designed by UC Berkeley Professor Brenda J. Bredemeier, the meeting began as an adjunct to her class "Character in Action: Moral Values and Behavior in Sport," but it soon grew to include participants from 10 states, Canada and England. Sponsorship is provided by the Division of Undergraduate and Interdisciplinary Studies and by the Stephen B. White Foundation. The conference will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., in the Valley Life Sciences Bldg., followed by a reception in the campus's Alumni House. A program follows: 9:00-9:30: Announcements and Welcoming Remarks Rm. 2040, Professor Bredemeier and Chancellor Tien 9:30-9:45: Introduction to Keynote Rm. 2040, Professor Bredemeier 9:45-10:45: Keynote Address Rm. 2040, Mariah Burton Nelson 11:00-12:00: Lecture Block #1 Dr. Helen Carroll, "Homophobia in Sport", Rm. 2040 Kevin Johnson, "Athletes' Rights and Responsibilities", Rm. 2060 12:00-1:00 Lunch Break 1:00-2:00: Lecture Block #2 Marianne Stanley, "Gender Equity in Sport", Rm. 2040 Dr. Ted Leland, "Ethical Issues in Athletic Administration", Rm. 2060 2:15-3:15: Lecture Block #3 Dr. Carole Oglesby, "The Olympic Ideal", Rm. 2040 Joan Ryan and Monte Poole, "Pressures on Young Athletes" Rm. 2060 3:30-4:30: Roundtable Discussions Gender Equity (Linda Stoick, Frank Scaleno), Rm. 2030 Athletic Administration (Elizabeth Alden, Bill Manning), Rm. 2032 Homophobia (Dr. Susan Zieff, Carla Jackson, Quo Judkins) Rm. 2038 Athletes' Rights and Responsibilities (Kern Barret, Steve Clack), Rm. 2062 The Olympic Ideal (Karen Moe Thornton, Jackie Edwards) Rm. 2066 Pressures on Young Athletes (Lynn Patrick, Danielle Mashey), Rm. 2070 4:45-5:00: Closing Remarks, Rm. 2040 5:00-6:00 Reception and Book Signing Alumni House