Women, Sport, and Film Course

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WEEK 3

Name:  Amy Campbell
Username:  acampbel@brynmawr.edu
Subject:  Remember The Titans
Date:  2004-02-12 16:51:01
Message Id:  8137
Comments:
Racial tension and social equality are complex issues which reside through out all aspects of society- as do the other 'isms' and "phobia's" --sexism, agism, classism, homophobia, etc.

Movies can provide a snapshot of those issues and in Remember the Titans, a true story has been used to portray sport as 'an even playing field' and a place where the common goal of pursuing victory and what it will take to achieve victory, eventually trumps the racial tensions.

What makes sport an easy vehicle to shed animosities and what other vehicles are there on College campuses to "bring people together" in dialogue and deed. What are the vehicles we can use on our campus to bridge cultural, racial, ethnic, orientation divides, when they exist?

Name:  Elizabeth Hanson
Username:  eahanson@brynmawr.edu
Subject:  Remember the Titans
Date:  2004-02-12 23:14:08
Message Id:  8145
Comments:
I think sports is an easy vehicle to shed animosities because whether or not you like each other initially, you have to work together if you want to be able to compete; and eventually, I think, people grow to like and appreciate each other because they've been working together and striving towards the same goal.

I think most clubs on college campuses can serve as a vehicle for shedding animosities - singing groups, theater groups, etc. I think performance based groups though, sports, theater, musical, etc are the most likely to attract people from all different backgrounds and to help them shed their animosities because they're all chosen on merit and working towards a common goal.

Name:  Talia Liben
Username:  Anonymous
Subject:
Date:  2004-02-13 01:35:01
Message Id:  8147
Comments:
I think that the reason that clubs (including, but not limited to, sports) "shed animosities" is because it brings together people with common interests. The people are there because they want to be there - they choose to associate with people who share similar interests.
In sports, the people not only all, presumably, love the sport, but they have to work together in order to do well. They must transcend their differences in order to accomplish their goals.

Name:  Katherine Kaufman
Username:  kkaufman@brynmawr.edu
Subject:
Date:  2004-02-14 12:56:34
Message Id:  8160
Comments:
I think sports are an easy way to shed animosities because once you start to play you sort of lose a feeling of who is sho and can experience their talent. At least I think this is true when there is not outright hatred at the beginning. That on guy in "Remember the Titans" would never have been able to see talent in any of his black teammates.

I think organizations like SGA bring people together because they deal with the wellfare of the entire school.

Name:  Jessica Lee
Username:  jelee@brynmawr.edu
Subject:  Sport and other
Date:  2004-02-15 02:21:56
Message Id:  8166
Comments:
I have to agree with what others have been saying... sports allows people to forget their differences because it requires that they work together for a common goal. It's a good example of a group activity that relies solely on one's abilities.

In the same respect, many other activities and organizations can bring people of different backgrounds together. For example, music. In a choir or an orchestra a person's background, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, political views, etc. do not matter; the only thing that matters is music.

Working towards a common goal creates a "level playing field", because it is based on merit. Nearly all the campus activist groups, sports teams, musical groups, theatre groups, literary organizations, etc should effectively bring people together and avoid animosity, because the common ground should be one's capabilities and interests.

Name:  amelia leonards
Username:  aleonard@brynmawr.edu
Subject:
Date:  2004-02-15 13:56:56
Message Id:  8170
Comments:
the teamwork aspect of sport, obviously the most important unless we're discussing a one on one game of basketball or something, is what brings people of different backgrounds together. generally it's not to the advantage of your team to exclude a good player simply on the basis of their race or sexual orientation. even if people don't want anything to do with the different teammember initially, they will at least respect their athletic talent, and perhaps this respect will lead to acceptance and friendship.
clubs and activities bring people together on campus, but classes can too. look around the arch 102 room on any given day and you'll find that all the people in the class are there because they want to be and are interested in archaeology. (with the exception of the girl who needs the class to fulfill her classics major. but she's obviously interested in a similar subject.) common interests bring people together and lower barriers.

Name:  Katie Haymaker
Username:  khaymake@brynmawr.edu
Subject:  remember the titans
Date:  2004-02-15 14:18:49
Message Id:  8172
Comments:
The whole "common goal" factor in sports is what makes people's racial or social differences less of an issue. Playing together on a team - being forced to work together and trust your teammates - makes it essential for understanding and mutual respect.
I think college in general - Bryn Mawr in particular - is such a mixing of people from all different backrounds that just being here is a great way to meet and interact with people. I agree with the other comments that the clubs and activities on campus can create connections between very different people.

Name:  Amy Campbell
Username:  acampbel@brynmawr.edu
Subject:  response 2
Date:  2004-02-16 11:54:12
Message Id:  8207
Comments:
Great responses. These are complex issues. Many have talked about the arts and athletics as providing an environment which brings people together for a common goal. Are there other opportunities on campus to engage in conversation, areas which encourage an inclusive environment and ones which support and appreciate diversity?

Name:  Tera Benson
Username:  tbenson@brynmawr.edu
Subject:
Date:  2004-02-16 11:59:01
Message Id:  8210
Comments:
I agree with everyones comments. In joining a team or club or group with a concrete mission shared by all, the goal becomes most important. Therefore, race is not an initial category of excusion. In sharing a common goal, otherwise unconnected people realize a commonality among themselves that can bridge othwise unsurrmountable differences. I think that forced integration and a belief in/passion for a collective goal are fundamental in this process.

Name:  brenda
Username:  bzera@brynmawr.edu
Subject:
Date:  2004-02-16 16:48:08
Message Id:  8218
Comments:
sports require teamwork. If there is no unity there is no team. Being on a team doesn't mean that you have to like the other people, but the game goes much more smoothly if you do.
Most college campuses have many sports teams, intramural teams, clubs and other sorts of gatherings to promote unity. Bryn Mawr has customs groups for freshman. In general, dorm life tries to promote all-around good feelings, as living with people you hate is very difficult.

Name:  Jessica Lee
Username:  jelee@brynmawr.edu
Subject:  Diversity
Date:  2004-02-16 17:02:53
Message Id:  8219
Comments:
There are many opportunities on campus where diversity is embraced, in addition to sports teams, clubs, performing arts, and other extracurricular activities; major departments are another place where conversations about diversity can arise. As with sports teams and organizations, within each major department, the majors obviously share common interests, and may share common aspirations and goals. This brings people from diverse backgrounds together, again through common interest and abilities.

Name:  brenda
Username:  bzera@brynmawr.edu
Subject:
Date:  2004-02-16 23:02:03
Message Id:  8235
Comments:
acampbell: "Are there other opportunities on campus to engage in conversation, areas which encourage an inclusive environment and ones which support and appreciate diversity?"

Yes, most colleges have groups like ASA, SAW, etc. that are supportive of diversity, while still maintaining an inclusive environment. As one of the non-South Asian women in SAW, I can personally attest to this. Bryn Mawr tends to do a better job of adressing diversity than most universities/colleges, but I suspect that this is because we are not as diverse as many public institutions.

Name:  Talia Liben
Username:  Anonymous
Subject:  groups on campus
Date:  2004-02-17 02:03:21
Message Id:  8244
Comments:
I think almost all groups on campus encourage conversation. they may not all agree with your opinion, but mostly they are all open minded and inclusive - and they certainly are open to debate and discussion. I also think that many classes provide a forum for this kind of converation, within certain contexts.

Name:  Tera Benson
Username:  tbenson@brynmawr.edu
Subject:
Date:  2004-02-17 15:53:53
Message Id:  8253
Comments:
I agree that most groups on campus encourage diversity. In particular, we are all here for the academics and cannot shirk class discussions. I have taken several classes in which peoples' differing backgrounds have influenced their opinions relative to course topics. Diverse backgrounds make for richer in-class discussions.

Name:  Katie Haymaker
Username:  khaymake@brynmawr.edu
Subject:
Date:  2004-02-17 18:13:55
Message Id:  8255
Comments:
There are lectures and discussions around campus that deal with diversity and race issues. I think that these sorts of activities are a great aspect of the whole college experiance although community involvement isn't always what it could be. Someone mentioned customs, which reminded me of the discussions way back in September during customs week when small groups of freshwomen met to discuss the packets they had sent us over summer. Each group was led by one of the undergraduate deans; it was a good start to the year and a way to meet some of our classmates.

Name:  Katherine
Username:  kkaufman@brynmawr.edu
Subject:
Date:  2004-02-17 20:58:56
Message Id:  8258
Comments:
I thnk things like SGA bring people together. Also pre-professiona; groups like pre-med and pre-law bring people who have common interests together from across society. And classes. Especially in a school like this were the academics are so pervasive that it crosses all sorts of barriers because we all share the stress.

Name:  Elizabeth Hanson
Username:  eahanson@brynmawr.edu
Subject:
Date:  2004-02-18 08:54:52
Message Id:  8261
Comments:
I agree with everything everyone has said so far regarding opportunities on campus for people from various backgrounds to join in discussion. Most clubs, the academic environment itself, the students w/in your major and SGA are all great places for people to come together and interact with people from different backgrounds. Students may not always agree, but all these ptions give them an environment in which they can safely and comfortably share their own perspectives. I would also like to reppeat that Customs really is a great program. As a customs person, I am always impressed by how different the girls in my customs group are and yet how close they are as a group. Although that might also be because we live in Erdman basement Diamond C and there are only 7 of us (including mself and my customs partner). So dorms are another place on campus where miniature communities filled with people from different backgrounds are created.

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Women, Sport, and Film Course

Sponsored by the Department of Athletics and Physical Education at Bryn Mawr College, with support from the Center for Science In Society at Bryn Mawr College and the Serendip website.

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