Sanders said he and Morella will continue plans to convene a summit on sports and non-violence in the next year. The list of supporters and endorsers for the summit is long and growing and includes numerous coaches and athletics administrators, as well as many social and anti-violence organizations. "Already, scores of health, athletic and anti-violence groups have endorsed our legislation and joined the calls for defining a prominent role for our nation's sports industry and athletic heroes to help lead the campaign against domestic violence," Sanders said.
One of those supporters is Lee A. McElroy, athletics director at American University. McElroy believes that a congressional summit would "increase the awareness of violence. Whether we like it or not, the vehicle of athletics is a tremendous medium for conveying a message and the message is awareness and sensitivity to domestic violence and violence towards women--and it deserves extensive investigation."
He also said there is no concrete evidence linking athletes to violence, "but because of the interest in--and visibility of--athletics and incidents involving athletes, this is receiving a tremendous amount of attention. We can begin to explore this through athletics and come up with appropriate alternatives, options and solutions."
Charles S. Farell, a frequent contributor to Black Issues In Higher Education, is director of the Rainbow Coalition's Fairness in Athletics.
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