Research center fights negative stereotypes of student athletes

University students, faculty and alumni gathered yesterday for the inaugural Symposium of the Paul Robeson Research Center for Academic and Athletic Prowess.

To encourage the academic endeavors of University student athletes, Kinesiology Prof. Keith Harrison created the Paul Robeson Research Center for Academic and Athletic Prowess, commemorating the life and accomplishments of the center's namesake.

Robeson was a singer, musician, athlete and activist known for his academic accomplishments. Harrison said reading about Robeson's life reconstructed his view of the role of the American athlete.

"I started reading about him from (Richard) Lapchick's book. He said, 'Let's talk about athletes who are balanced and perform in law and medicine, rather than the stereotypical athlete,'" Harrison said.

Lapchick, a sociology professor at Northeastern University, was the keynote speaker at yesterday's symposium.

The Inaugural Symposium was a day-long event that took place in the Kinesiology building next to the CCRB.

It began with a panel of student athletes, who discussed why Robeson serves as a role model for their college experiences in both academia and athletics.

University alumnus and former Michigan football player Jarrett Irons spoke about his experience in the NFL and the value education has held in his life after football.

"Even though I had taken the necessary precautions for life without football, I never thought that day would come," Irons said.

During his undergraduate years, Irons ensured that he would be well-prepared for a career outside of professional football. Because he was red-shirted as a first-year student, Irons spent five years in Michigan's football program. In his fifth year, he began pursuing a masters degree in facility management. Irons will graduate from the University's masters program in the fall.

"Just because you're good doesn't mean you're going to make it," Irons said.

In the afternoon, Lapchick delivered a speech titled "Modern Day Stereotypes and the Exploitation of Black Athletes." Lapchick addressed issues including student athletes in academia, the significance of athlete exploitation and stereotypes.

"In 14 years I have never been called by the media to talk about an athlete that has done something good," Lapchick said. He said after questioning members of the media about consistent negative portrayals of athletes, he was told, "Good news doesn't sell."

Lapchick also spoke about the delicate relationship between race and sports.

"Whites still generally believe that (sports) is a level playing field," he said, adding that American sports institutions have an abysmal record in hiring blacks for management positions.

"You can look at our statistics and see that our athletic departments are the worst employers of people of color and women," Lapchick said. "Attitudes can help to create or perpetuate stereotypes."

Lapchick suggested that raising the number of minorities in sports related positions could transform attitudes within the industry.

Kinesiology junior Marcelo McDougall said he appreciated Lapchick's remarks.

"He did a really great presentation," McDougall said. "I think his point about how race is such a key in sports today is a really important issue that definitely needs to be looked at."

McDougall added that the center will enhance the Department of Kinesiology.

"I think the Paul Robeson Center is a really good idea," McDougall said. "It definitely fits an important role here in the department."

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