Thursday, February 1

• Panel Discussion 4:00 p.m

“Athletes, Character and Leadership”

How can athletics be used to foster growth in character and development in leadership skills that are widely valued both inside and outside of sport?

Panelists:

• Gerry Davis, Major League umpire and crew chief
• Jack Bennett ’71, former head coach of back-to-back NCAA Div. III national men's basketball championship teams at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
• Sharon Stoll, professor of sports ethics at the University of Idaho,

Moderator:

• Ken Pinckney ’81, member of the Ripon College Athletic Hall of Fame and senior manager at Johnson Bank in Milwaukee

On the one hand, it often is argued that participation in sports is one of the key character-building activities in which young people can engage. It may be said fairly that sportsmanship is one of the central and abiding ethical practices in our society and a model for developing character and values. On the other hand, we are confronted repeatedly by major and minor scandals, which seem to call into question the underlying premise of sports as a builder of character. To what extent have the values of sports been hijacked or compromised by the values of the broader society, of the business community and of the entertainment media? Are there significant differences in the conduct of individual and team sports? Is there any role for ethical leadership in the conduct of sports?