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News Archives (2008 - present)

Fall 1999-December 2008

2008

  • The 2009 NCAA Scholarly Colloquium will take place January 13-14 during the annual NCAA convention in Washington, DC. The theme for the colloquium is, "Paying the Price: Is Excellence in Sport Compatible with Good Health?" Maureen Weiss, Tucker Center Co-Director, has co-organized this second annual colloquium. An article featuring the colloquium appears in The NCAA News.  [December 16, 2008]
  • Check out Ashoka’s Changemakers in GameChangers: Change the Game for Women in Sport, a search to identify the best sport innovations that challenge the barriers girls and women face around the world. Visit the Changemakers' website to submit entries, collaborate on ideas, and learn more about the coalition of extraordinary individuals uniting to bring about change. Submit your entry by February 11, 2009 at www.changemakers.net to take advantage of the funding opportunities and global exposure, while contributing to the next big change! [December 15, 2008]
  • Austin Calhoun, PhD student and Tucker Center Research Assistant, and Dr. Nicole LaVoi, Associate Director of the Tucker Center, were accepted to present a poster at the the Sport, Sexuality, and Culture Conference to be held March 18-20, 2009 in Ithaca, N.Y. The research is titled Examining Online Intercollegiate Head Coaches' Biographies: Reproducing or Challenging Heteronormativity and Heterosexism? [December 8, 2008]
  • Dr. Nicole LaVoi, with co-authors Megan Babkes Stellino and Kristina Moore (University of Northern Colorado) will present a poster, The Relation Between Perceived Parent Created Sport Climate and Competitive Youth Hockey Players' Good and Poor Sport Behaviors at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research on Child Development (SRCD, www.srcd.org) to be held in Denver, Colo., on April 2-4, 2009.[November 30, 2008]
  • USA Today has several stories related to the academic performance of student-athletes at Division I schools. A related (and feature) story involves a nationally recognized and highly-praised task force at the U of M co-chaired by Mary Jo Kane. [November 19, 2008]
  • Maureen Weiss, professor of kinesiology and co-director of the Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport, and David Goodman, professor of kinesiology at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, B.C., received a $90,000 grant over three years from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada for a proposal titled, "Changing Attitudes and Behaviors of Youth Hockey Players by Innovative Educational Interventions." The project seeks to reduce incidence of concussions among youth hockey players by educating youth about the impact of violent plays on incidence of injury and educating coaches and parents about how their actions influence players' attitudes and behaviors. [November 17, 2008]
  • In the current issue of the University's Department of Recreational Sports Wellness Works magazine now in your mailbox, the Tucker Center is highly visible: Dr. Beth Lewis (Affiliated Scholar) has the feature article on pages 3-5 and Dr. Maureen Weiss' (Co-Director) The First Tee project is featured on page 21. In addition, Dr. Weiss is featured as a "Face of Wellness" on page 8. Congratulations to both our faculty.[November 17, 2008]
  • The University of North Carolina at Greensboro will be presenting the first annual Girls In Sports Symposium in February. Dr. Maureen Weiss, co-director of the Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport at The University of Minnesota, will deliver the keynote address. [November 11, 2008]
  • We have been notified by the Office of the VP for Research that Dr. Nicole LaVoi’s work in the Tucker Center will be featured in the University's upcoming Research Annual Report. Congratulations, Dr. LaVoi! [October 31, 2008]
  • Dr. Nicole LaVoi and Chelsey Thul, Ph.D. student, will present their research on underserved girls at the 2009 Active Living Research (ALR) Annual Conference to be held February 18-20, 2009 in San Diego, Calif. Active Living Research is a national program of the Robert Woods Johnson Foundation.  The project titled Reducing Physical Inactivity and Promoting Active Living: From the Voices of East African Girls was funded by the Melpomene Institute for Women's Health Research. [October 28, 2008]
  • Drs. Mary Jo Kane and Nicole LaVoi are currently featured in a video about The 2007 Tucker Center Research Report: Developing Physically Active Girls on the U of M's Research homepage. Watch the video here or download the transcript here.[October 24, 2008]
  • The Tucker Center has released a full-length video of its Fall Distinguished Lecture, which featured three Minnesota track and field Olympians: Janis Klecker, Carrie Tollefson and Shani Marks. The lecture was moderated by U of M Professor of Sociology Doug Hartmann. To view the video online, go to the Tucker Center home page. [October 24, 2008]
  • Jill Haom, a 2008 Summer Tucker Center McNair Scholar, has been selected as one of five U of M students who will present research at the 2008 National McNair Research Conference October 28-30th in Delavan, Wisconsin. She will present her project Unequal Opportunities, Unequal Outcomes: The Physical Activity of East African Girls, which was funded by the Melpomene Institute for Women’s Health Research. Congratulations Jill! [October 24, 2008]
  • The 2007 Tucker Center Research Report: Developing Physically Active Girls (TCRR) continues to make an impact! The TCRR is cited numerous times in Go Out and Play: Youth Sports in America, an extensive report that measures the nationwide participation rates of girls and boys in exercise and organized team sports. The report, authored by Don Sabo and Phil Veliz, was released October 18, 2008 by the Women's Sports Foundation and The Center for Research on Physical Activity, Sport & Health at D’Youville College. [October 21, 2008]
  • Maureen Weiss, professor of Kinesiology and co-director of the Tucker Center, has set up a blog for her 3-week trip to five universities in China—Beijing, Tianjin, Chengdu, Xian, Shanghai—from October 9-23. [October 13, 2008]
  • Nicole LaVoi will be featured in an article on overscheduled children in the fall volume of Stemwinder, a publication for St. Paul/Minneapolis 3M employees and retirees. [October 10, 2008]
  • Minnesota Daily has published a front page article featuring Professor Maureen Weiss's trip to China with other Big Ten Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC) kinesiology professors. [October 10, 2008]
  • Diane M. Wiese-Bjornstal and Nicole M. LaVoi will give an Action Item presentation based on The 2007 Tucker Center Research Report - Developing Physically Active Girls: An Evidence-based Multidisciplinary Approach at the Action on Obesity Summit being held at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN on October 16-17, 2008. [October 3, 2008]
  • Co-director of the Tucker Center Maureen Weiss and Dr. Nicole LaVoi, Associate Director, are featured on a panel presentation for the College of Education and Human Development's Women’s Philanthropic Leadership Circle Fall Program on Monday, October 27, 5:30-7:30 p.m., at the U of M's Campus Club. [September 29, 2008]
  • Nicole LaVoi will be part of a Sport & Morality Symposium at the annual Association of Moral Education conference held in November at the University of Notre Dame. Her talk is titled "Helping Create a Moral Climate on Youth Sport Sidelines: Reducing Parental Background Anger" and reflects her current work with the Minnesota Youth Sport Research Consortium (MNYSRC) pertaining to youth sport parents. [September 29, 2008]
  • The Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport has created a blog to respond to Michael Sokolove's book, Warrior Girls: Protecting Our Daughters Against the Injury Epidemic in Women’s Sport, which was released in 2008 along with a companion article that appeared in the May 11 issue of the New York Times Magazine. The premise of the book asserts that “[the] immutable facts of anatomy and physiology” cause girls to incur significantly more sport injuries (e.g., ACL tears, concussions) than their male counterparts, resulting in what Sokolove terms a female “injury epidemic.” As a response to the underlying premise (and purported facts) of Warrior Girls, the Tucker Center felt it necessary to provide a scholarly critique from relevant academic disciplines, which included in its 2008 Fall Newsletter. The Tucker Center's blog, Reacting to Warrior Girls, also contains those perspectives and invites comments and responses from the public. [September 26, 2008]
  • Maureen Weiss, professor of Kinesiology and co-director of the Tucker Center, will join representative faculty of CIC universities (Committee on Institutional Cooperation) in visiting five universities in China (Beijing, Tianjin, Chengdu, Xian, Shanghai). The purpose of the trip, October 9-23, is to discover ways to collaborate on undergraduate and graduate programs, research projects, and study abroad opportunities. The delegation includes Kinesiology members from the University of Minnesota, University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Purdue University, Ohio State University, University of Illinois, University of Wisconsin, Indiana University, and Penn State University. [September 15, 2008]
  • Diane Wiese-Bjornstal, associate professor of Kinesiology, has been selected to be an Associate Editor for Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport (RQES). RQES is an interdisciplinary and the longest standing scholarly journal in Kinesiology (since 1930). Wiese-Bjornstal will serve a three-year term, 2008-2011, for the psychology section of the journal. [September 15, 2008]
  • The 2007 Tucker Center Research Report: Developing Physically Active Girls (TCRR) continues to make an impact both nationally and internationally. TheTCRR is cited in the National Coaching Report (2008), released in August by the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE). The National Coaching Report is the only comprehensive document addressing both youth and interscholastic coaching education requirements in the United States. The TCRR was also featured in a presentation at the Promoting Equality in Sport - Toward Sydney 2010 Conference held in Mikkeli, Finland, last June. The presentation titled "Gender Issues and Coaching" was given by Chris Shelton from Smith College. Professor Shelton is an influential member of the International Working Group on Women and Sport (IWG). [September 12, 2008]
  • Maureen Weiss, professor of kinesiology and co-director of the Tucker Center, recently co-authored two book chapters in Thelma Horn's (2008) textbook, Advances in Sport Psychology (3rd ed). Weiss and Tony Amorose published Motivational orientations and sport behavior, and she and co-authors Alan Smith and Cheryl Stuntz published Moral development in sport and physical activity: Theory, research, and intervention. [September 5, 2008]
  • This fall, Tucker Center Associate Director Nicole LaVoi and Chelsey Rodd (Research Assistant) are writing a position paper in partnership with Team Up for Youth (www.teamupforyouth.org) on sports based youth development for underserved girls. [August 28, 2008]
  • Associate Director of the Tucker Center Nicole LaVoi will deliver a keynote titled "Developing Physically Active Girls" to the AAUW Wisconsin River Falls chapter on September 16. [August 28, 2008]
  • Associate Director of the Tucker Center Nicole LaVoi was invited to the annual meeting of the Minnesota State High School Coaches Association on October 4 to give a presentation titled "The Psychology of Coaching: Effective Motivational Strategies." [August 28, 2008]
  • Diane Wiese-Bjornstal, associate professor in Kinesiology, was elected to the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports Science Advisory Board for 2009-2012. The board's activities include review and input on the long-standing President's Challenge program as well as many other initiatives related to physical activity and health across the lifespan. The board includes ten scholars who are selected because of their significant contributions to the research and science of physical activity, fitness, health, and sports. [August 21, 2008]
  • Christine Brennan, former Tucker Center Distinguished Lecturer and well known sports journalist, will be posting her insights in a blog from the Beijing Olympics. Links to her blog and other Olympic work can be found at www.christinebrennan.com. [August 18, 2008]
  • The Tucker Center 2008 McNair Scholars finished their summer research assistantships by presenting their research at a poster session on July 29th. In the photo on the left, Terrence Jordan (center), is pictured with his project mentors, Affiliated Scholar Heather Maxwell (l.) and Associate Director Nicole LaVoi (r.). Jordan conducted a project titled "Racial Representations of Women's and Men's Intercollegiate Basketball Coverage on ESPN.com." In the photo on the right, Jill Haom (r.) with project mentor LaVoi (l.), presented work on "Unequal Opportunities, Unequal Outcomes: The Physical Activity of East African Girls," a study funded by the Melpomene Institute. Congratulations Terrence and Jill! [July 29, 2008]
  • Jens Omli and Associate Director Nicole LaVoi's manuscript, "The perfect storm: Background anger in youth sports," has been accepted for publication in the Journal of Sport Behavior. [July 22, 2008]
  • On Thursday, June 26 Director Mary Jo Kane presented results from the Women's Sport Foundation Media Project titled "The portrayal of female athletes in the media: Does sex really sell?" (Kane & Maxwell, 2008) to AP sports editors who were in Minneapolis for their annual convention. [June 26, 2008]
  • Associate Director Nicole LaVoi was in St. Cloud on July 9th to deliver a keynote titled "Developing Physically Active Girls" to the Forum of Executive Women (www.fewstcloud.org). [June 25, 2008]
  • June 27-29, 2008,  Associate Director Nicole LaVoi will deliver a keynote titled "Facilitating Psychosocial Development of Youth In and Through Sports" at The Soul of Youth Sports conference held at Seattle University. [June 19, 2008]
  • You are invited to attend an exclusive presentation on June 24th, featuring Drs. Diane Wiese-Bjornstal and Nicole LaVoi of the University of Minnesota's Tucker Center and the Minnesota Youth Sport Research Consortium. The presentation "Developing Physically Active Youth" is given in partnership with the Minnesota Lynx and will occur at 5:30pm prior to the Lynx v. NY Liberty game. Guests will enjoy the game following the presentation. Come and hear the latest information on this important topic, as well as watch the currently undefeated Lynx in their best start in franchise history (4-0)! This presentation will be informative for parents, coaches, teachers, administrators and anyone who is interested in and interacts with children and youth. The event is packaged with special pricing, and is open to everyone. Please pass on this announcement, along with the flier, to those who may be interested. Space is limited so call Amber Wirth, Lynx Representative, now at (612) 673-8432 to reserve your ticket. We hope to see you there. [download flier] [June 19, 2008]
  • Read Dr. Mary Jo Kane's interview with local sports columnist Bob Sansevere in today's St. Paul Pioneer Press on her study on the portrayal of female athletes. In a recent Orlando Sentinel story about female athletes selling sex appeal, Dr. Kane said that "when female athletes are portrayed off the court, instead of portraying them as the classy girl next door they are sexualized in ways that bear an alarming resemblance to soft-core pornography." Sansevere contacted Dr. Kane to find out more. [June 3, 2008]
  • Director Mary Jo Kane was quoted in an article titled "Examining the progress and problems of Title IX." "The issue of whether girls should play sports is off the radar screen," said Kane, "It's now moved to 'What sport should that be?'" To read the full article, click here http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/117574 [June 2, 2008]
  • The Tucker Center is proud and excited to announce that The 2007 Tucker Center Research Report, Developing Physically Active Girls: An Evidence-based Multidisciplinary Approach is in press. The Executive Summary and full report are available now online [click here to download].
  • Check out all the media attention we've received on The 2007 Tucker Center Research Report: Click here for an entire page of links!
  • Heather Maxwell and Jens Omli, former Tucker Center Research Assistants, successfully defended their PhD dissertations during the month of May. Congratulations Drs. Maxwell and Omli! [May 29, 2008]
  • Rich Weinberg, Distinguished University Teaching Professor of Child Psychology in the Institute of Child Development and Director, Center for Early Education and Development, and Mary Jo Kane, Professor and Chair, School of Kinesiology, and Director, Tucker Center for Research on Girls and Women in Sport, will be on the "Good Enough Moms" (GEMS) radio show on FM 107, Sunday, June 1. The radio show will feature Weinberg and Kane talking about children's involvement in sport. A story on GEMS, a show that  explores the many facets of motherhood in today's world, can be found at http://www1.umn.edu/umnnews/Feature_Stories/22Good_Enough_Moms22.html [May 28, 2008]
  • Diane Wiese-Bjornstal, professor of sport and exercise psychology and Affiliated Scholar, is quoted in an article on the prevalence of injury in girls' organized sports in Delaware Online. [May 28, 2008]
  • Bring your lunch and join us for the first Social, Psychological and Physical Development (SPPD) Neighborhood Lunch Forum, June 3rd, Noon–1:00pm, 240 Burton Hall. Nicole LaVoi, Diane Wiese-Bjornstal, Lisa Kihl, and Maureen Weiss, Minnesota Youth Sport Research Consortium and School of Kinesiology faculty members will discuss multiple interrelated research and civic engagement projects. [May 27, 2008]
  • The Tucker Center is proud to announce our 2008 Summer Interns: Sarah Hammon, a senior psychology major with a topical minor in sports psychology from the University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire; Jill Haom, a junior in kinesiology with an exercise science emphasis at the University of Minnesota and a McNair Scholar; Terrence A. Jordan II, a senior in kinesiology with an exercise science emphasis and a minor in coaching and afro studies at the University of Minnesota, and also a McNair Scholar; and Erin Morris, a junior in sociology with a sports studies minor from Whitman College. Congratulations, interns! [May 14, 2008]
  • Nicole LaVoi, Maureen Weiss, and Diane Wiese-Bjornstal delivered a panel presentation titled "Physical Activity as a Context for Youth Development" on May 13, 2008. The presentation was part of The Applied Research Collaborative on Youth Development's Inquiry to Impact series. [May 14, 2008]
  • Mary Jo Kane, Tucker Center director, is quoted as an expert in women's sports in the Sunday, May 11, New York Times 10-page article "The Uneven Playing Field" by Michael Sokolove. [May 11, 2008]
  • This summer, research assistant Chelsey Rodd be gaining invaluable qualitative research experience at General Mills, while working with the Consumer Insights Co-Creation team. [May 1, 2008]
  • Nicole LaVoi was featured on WCCO TV talking about the Parents And Coaches Together (PACT) sport education program she helped co-develop for the Minnesota Youth Soccer Association (MYSA), as well as the Minnesota PLAYS (Parents Learning About Youth Sports) program. See the story and video at http://wcco.com/specialreports/parents.coaching.behave.2.709792.html [April 28, 3008]
  • Chelsey Rodd and Erin Becker are the winners of the 2008-09 Eloise Jaeger Scholarship for Students at the Tucker Center. Each of these deserving students will receive $2000 toward their academic endeavors. Congratulations, Chelsey and Erin! [April 11, 2008]
  • On Monday morning April 14th, Associate Director Nicole LaVoi was featured during the Minnesota Public Radio news cast [http://minnesota/publicradio.org/]. She discussed the newly released 2007 Tucker Center Research Report, Developing Physically Active Girls. [April 11, 2008]
  • Doctoral Candidate Jens Omli has been awarded a prestigious 2-year NIMH traineeship at the U of M's Institute of Child Development. Starting Fall 2008, Omli will be working with Dante Cicchetti and Nicki Crick to acquire new research skills, which will allow him to investigate the influence of angry parent behavior on emotional outcomes in youth sport participants. Congratulations Jens! [April 11, 2008]
  • On April 2, Tucker Center Research Assistant Chelsey Rodd successfully defended her MA project titled "Issues of Access and Strategies for Increasing Soccer Participation for All Youth: An Exploratory Case Study of a Youth Soccer Association." Congratulations Chelsey! [April 4, 2008]
  • Mary Jo Kane is featured in an NCAA News Web site article, "Forum Studies Women in Sports." The article highlights Kane's research in her session entitled "Portrayal of Female Athletes in the Media" to be given at the upcoming Women in College Sports Forum, April 6, in Tampa, Florida. [March 25, 2008]
  • As part of Women's History Month, The Smart Women Company honored Nicole LaVoi and the work of the Tucker Center. [March 16, 2008]
  • Dr. Sarah Leberman, Visiting Senior Fulbright Scholar, spent Fall semester at the School of Kinesiology working
    in the Tucker Center with Dr. Nicole LaVoi. [March 6, 2008]
  • Two featured research projects of the Tucker Center were accepted for the CE+HD Research Day, February 27, 2008, at the University of Minnesota's McNamara Alumni Center. One poster featured an An Evidence-based Multidisciplinary Model for Developing Physically Active Girls from The 2007 Tucker Center Research Report, and the second poster featured research-based strategies for increasing the number of women in youth sport coaching. [February 12, 2008]
  • Affiliated scholar Jo Buysse gave a series of talks on February 23, 2008, at the College of St. Benedict pertaining to her research on media portrayals of female athletes. [February 7, 2008]
  • Tucker Center associate director Nicole LaVoi was featured on the February 9, 2008, FoxSports North broadcast of Hockey Day Minnesota, where she discussed results of the Tucker Center's research on what motivates fans to attend men's and women's intercollegiate hockey. [January 30, 2008]
  • National Girls and Women in Sports Day was Wednesday, February 6, 2008. Many exciting events happened around the Twin Cities throughout the week in conjunction with this important day, including many events hosted by the University of Minnesota. [January 28, 2008]
  • Read a feature story about KIDS SPEAK youth sport research conducted by doctoral candidate Jens Omli in UMN News. [January 28, 2008]
  • On February 11, 2008 Associate Director Nicole LaVoi traveled to Duluth to deliver workshops on media portrayals of female athletes for University of Minnesota-Duluth student-athletes and faculty and to participants of the YWCA's Girl Power program. She also gave an evening lecture to the community summarizing key findings of The 2007 Tucker Center Research Report. These events helped celebrate National Girls and Women in Sport Day. [January 16, 2008]
  • Nicole LaVoi, Associate Director, recently participated on a panel which addressed the latest research in youth engagement at the 2nd annual Safe and Healthy Learners Conference [http://www.togevents.com/sah/index.html] held January 14-16 in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. The goal of the conference was to provide an opportunity for people from all areas to learn how to support and give our youth a healthy environment in which to learn and grow. [January 15, 2008]
  • Read more about the Tucker Center's collaborative educational and research initiatives with the Minnesota Youth Soccer Association in the January 2008 issue of Soccer Times on pages 13-14 at the following link http://mnyouthsoccer.org/publications/stimes/jan08.pdf [January 14, 2008]
  • Vivian Acosta and Linda Carpenter have released the 31st-year update of their groundbreaking research, Women in Intercollegiate Sport: A Longitudinal, National Study. The report can be downloaded at www.acostacarpenter.org. [January 14, 2008]
  • Rayla Allison, Affiliated Scholar, was quoted in the latest edition of the Women's Press in an article on Foundation IX, a nonprofit organization committed to eliminating costs as a barrier to girls' participation in sports and fitness activities. Allison is a board member of the foundation, which in November presented its first "Let Me Play" grants to 45 Minnesota girls. [January 4, 2008]

2007

  • Maureen Weiss was named Chair of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports Science Board for 2008. The board's activities include review and input on the long-standing President's Challenge program as well as many other initiatives related to physical activity and health across the lifespan. The board includes ten scholars who were selected due to their significant contributions to the research and science of physical activity, fitness, health, and sports. [December 6, 2007]
  • The latest volume of the Women's Journal of Sport and Physical Activity features two articles written by Tucker Center faculty and graduate students. Nicole LaVoi, Jo Ann Buysse, Heather Maxwell and Mary Jo Kane's article is titled "The influence of occupational status and sex of decision maker on media representations in intercollegiate sport", and Nicole LaVoi, Erin Becker and Heather Maxwell's article is titled “Coaching Girls”: A content analysis of best-selling popular press books." [December 6, 2007]
  • Associate Director Nicole LaVoi's article "Expanding the interpersonal dimension: Closeness in the coach-athlete relationship" was accepted for publication and will appear in the International Journal of Sport Science & Coaching, 2(4), 497-512. [December 6, 2007] 
  • Affiliated Scholar Diane Wiese-Bjornstal, was quoted in an October 20th Star Tribune article on high school chapters of the Fellowship for Christian Athletes, an organization promoting a faith-based approach to athletic competition. [November 13, 2007]
  • On November 14, Associate Director Nicole LaVoi traveled to Indianapolis, IN to conduct coach education to a select group of thirty coaches from the Algerian Basketball Federation as part of the Unity Through Sports (USPORT) grant funded by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State. [November 13, 2007]
  • Maureen Weiss, professor of sport psychology and Tucker Center Affiliated Scholar, gave a keynote presentation at the 10th anniversary meeting of The First Tee on November 3 in Jacksonville, FL. In her presentation titled, "More Than a Game: Impact of The First Tee Life Skills Programs on Positive Youth Development," Weiss shared results from three years of longitudinal data documenting the effectiveness of this youth development program on life skills learning and developmental outcomes. In addition, Weiss's grant for this research was renewed by Philip Morris Youth Smoking Prevention Programs for next year, bringing her four-year grant total to over half a million dollars. [November 7, 2007]
  • Nicole LaVoi delivered the keynote address at the Minnesota State High School League Girls' Tennis Banquet on Tuesday, October 23, to players and their parents and coaches at the Crown Plaza in St. Paul. The event preceded the Girls' State Tournament. [October 17, 2007]
  • Maureen Weiss, our invited Fall Distinguished Lecturer, was interviewed on Don Shelby's WCCO radio news/talk show on Monday, October 15th. She discussed the upcoming Tucker Center fall lecture "Healthy Minds, Healthy Bodies: Barriers and Solutions to Girls' Physical Inactivity Participation." [October 10, 2007]
  • Professor Emeritus Eloise Jaeger, a pioneer in women’s physical education at the University of Minnesota and the first woman to have administrative authority over a men’s and women’s physical education department, passed away Monday, October 8. Dr. Jaeger was a steadfast force behind women’s physical education and the establishment of women’s intercollegiate athletics, and was instrumental in increasing girls’ and women’s participation in sport and physical activity. [October 8, 2007]
  • Research Assistants Erin Becker and Chelsey Rodd presented the Tucker Center's "Throw Like a Girl" video and other material relating to self-esteem and athletics at the National Organization for Women Foundation's "Love Your Body Conference" on Saturday, October 20th. [October 10, 2007]
  • Associate Director Nicole LaVoi, along with David Shields and Brenda Bredemeier (University of Missouri-St. Louis) and Clark Power (University of Notre Dame) have a manuscript accepted for publication in the Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology titled "Predictors of poor sportspersonship in youth sports: An examination of personal attitudes and social influences" which will be in print in early 2008. This research was commissioned by the Citizenship Through Sports Alliance and received in-kind support from the Office of Research of the National Collegiate Athletic Association. [October 1, 2007]
  • The Tucker Center is thrilled to announce Dr. Sarah Leberman has been awarded a Fulbright Senior Scholar Award to conduct research on women in sport. Dr. Leberman is currently a Senior Lecturer in Sport Management and Coaching in the Department of Management as Massey University in Palmerston North, New Zealand. She is working with Tucker Center colleagues on two projects— mothers in coaching, and gender equity of women in decision-making positions in Olympic sport national governing bodies. Welcome Dr. Leberman! [September 27, 2007]
  • Associate Director Nicole LaVoi and colleague Megan Babkes Stellino, Professor in the School of Sport and Exercise Science and the University of Colorado, have a manuscript accepted for publication in The Journal of Psychology: Interdisciplinary and Applied, titled "The Relationship Between Perceived Parent-Created Sport Climate and Competitive Youth Male Hockey Players' Good and Poor Sport Behaviors". [September 25, 2007]
  • Members of the Tucker Team co-hosted a booth with the Minnesota Youth Soccer Association (MYSA) at the Mexican Independence Day celebration on Sunday, September 16, 2007 from 12:00-6:00pm. Booths were set up on Lake Street between 2nd Ave S. and Portland Ave. [September 14, 2007]
  • On October 2, 2007, Associate Director Nicole LaVoi launched the Minnesota PLAYS™ (Parents Learning About Youth Sports) program to first- and second-grade parents in Eagan, MN, as part of a community collaboration between the Eagan Athletic Association and School District 196.
  • The Tucker Center has made national headlines in the New Zealand Herald! Read more about Dr. Sarah Leberman, the Tucker Center's upcoming visiting Fulbright scholar. [August 30, 2007]
  • Read about the Tucker Center in "UWomen" a special section in the August 22 issue of the Women's Press. UWomen is published by the Office of the Vice President and Vice Provost for Equity and Diversity at the U of M. [August 24, 2007]
  • In November Associate Director Nicole LaVoi will travel to Indianapolis, IN to conduct coach education to a select group of coaches from the Algerian Basketball Federation as part of the USPORT grant funded by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State. [www.cla.purdue.edu/icce/usport] [August 24, 2007]
  • Mothers, do you currently have children participating in youth sports? If so, you are invited to participate in a ground-breaking study being conducted by the Tucker Center. For more information about this study click on our "Current Projects" tab. To set up an interview at your convenience please contact Erin Becker, Project Associate, at 612-625-9671 or via email at beck0653@umn.edu. [August 23, 2007]
  • Associate Director Nicole LaVoi was part of a mini-symposium August 16, 2007 at the biennial Pangborn Sensory Science Symposium conference hosted in Minneapolis. Alongside food science colleagues from around the world, Dr. LaVoi helped frame the symposium from a sport science perspective by discussing the parallels of optimal performance and motivation between athletes and food panelists. [August 17, 2007]
  • Associate Director Nicole LaVoi will present her cutting-edge research on youth sports to the Detroit Lakes Rotary Club on Tuesday, August 7th. The presentation is a part of the University of Minnesota's 2007-08 Statewide Speakers Tour designed to help citizens of Minnesota connect with the U. In over 35 communities University of Minnesota Alumni Association members, faculty, and deans, will discuss how through teaching, research, and outreach the U benefits specific areas and the entire state. If you would like to attend please RSVP to 612-626-1417 or delvo003@umn.edu. [August 2, 2007]
  • Affiliated Scholar Stephen Ross was interviewed on the local radio station K-FAN (1130AM) about the NBA official accused of betting on games. [July 26, 2007]
  • Affiliated Scholar Stephen Ross was interviewed about the NBA official who was accused of betting on games in the Pioneer Press' article "On and on, Part II." [July 26, 2007]
  • Research Assistant Heather Maxwell, graduate student Patrick Walsh and their adviser Dr. Stephen Ross had a manuscript accepted for publication in the International Journal of Sport Management titled "The Influence of Gender on Sport Recognition." [July 12, 2007]
  • Director Mary Jo Kane is quoted in a June 13, 2007 ESPN.com column titled "Beard's decision to bare all is either brilliant business ... or all wet." [June 13, 2007]
  • An interview with Tucker Center Director Mary Jo Kane and others resulted in the article "Title IX Turns 35: Legislation Continues Impact Well Beyond Athletics" by Carol Guensburg on the Casey Journalism Center's Web site. Kane's comments were from an interview with Guensburg regarding Don Imus' offensive comments about the Rutgers' basketball team. [http://www.cjc.umd.edu/jcommunity/articles/Guensburg_6.12.07.htm]  [June 12, 2007]
  • Director Mary Jo Kane has been named by the Institute for International Sport at the University of Rhode Island as one of America's 100 Most Influential Sports Educators. [June 1, 2007]
  • Affiliated Scholar Rayla Allison is featured in the May 16-29, 2007 issue of the Minnesota Women's Press. Allison is on the board of directors of Foundation IX, a local group of women who want all girls to have access to playing sports. [May 29, 2007]
  • Associate Director Nicole LaVoi is quoted in the Chicago Tribune article titled "Coaches'-eye View on Gender." [May 14, 2007]
  • Director Mary Jo Kane is quoted in a SportsIllustrated.com article titled "Sex Sells? Not so Fast: Women's Sports Need Substance, Not Pretty Pictures." [May 10, 2007]
  • Director Mary Jo Kane is quoted in an article by Elizabeth Redden appearing in Inside Higher Ed, “'Dirty Little Secrets’ in Women’s Sports," on the perceived prevalence of lesbian coaches in women's athletics and recent incidents involving the resignation of Louisiana State University women's basketball coach Pokey Chatman and the resignation of Pennsylvania State University women’s basketball coach Rene Portland. [May 9, 2007]
  • On Thursday, May 3 Research Assistant Heather Maxwell spoke with Bram Weinstein on the "Bram Show" about the Women's Sport Foundation study, Sex vs. Athletic Competence: Exploring Competing Narratives in Marketing and Promoting Women's Sports. [May 3, 2007]
  • Affiliated Scholar Jo Ann Buysse, director of the Sport Studies B.S. program, received the 2007 Excellence in Academic Advising Award from the College of Education and Human Development in a ceremony April 25. Congratulations, Dr. Buysse! [April 27, 2007]
  • Affiliated Scholar Rayla Allison is quoted extensively in the St. Cloud Times. She comments on a Title IX case Sauk Rapids High School is facing regarding accusations of discrimination against female student-athletes. The U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights is investigating. [April 24, 2007]
  • The Tucker Center is proud to announce the winner of the 2007 Eloise M. Jaeger Scholarship for Students in the Tucker Center award. This year the $2,000 scholarship is awarded to Jens Omli, Ph.D. student in Sport Psychology with advisor Diane Wiese-Bjornstal. Jens will use the scholarship to extend his research in youth sports for a project titled "Kids Speak: Youth Sport Coach and Parent Behavior of East African Children" when he travels to Uganda this summer. To read more about Jens' research, go to our "Current Projects" link. Please join us in congratulating Jens on this award! [April 24, 2007]
  • Program Associate Jonathan Sweet received a College of Education & Human Development award for "Quality and Quantity of Job Outcome" for his work on a University-wide project that required an extensive commitment of time and energy over and above his regular job responsibilities. Congratulations Jonathan! [April 24, 2007]
  • Director Mary Jo Kane is quoted in a New York Times article "In Recruiting Season, Mistrust is Raised at L.S.U." by Jere Longman on April 19, 2007, about homophobia in women's sports. [April 20, 2007]
  • Graduate student Chelsey Rodd and Associate Director Nicole LaVoi and have received a research grant from the Melpomene Institute for Women’s Health for a project titled, Unequal Opportunities, Unequal Outcomes: Reducing Physical Inactivity in Populations of Ethnic Minority Girls. This project aims to forge new connections and create synergy among U of M researchers, the Tucker Center for Girls & Women in Sport, The Melpomene Institute, and community members and organizations in the Twin Cities Metro Area in order to identify barriers and antecedents that prevent and limit girls’ participation in physical activity within their communities. Results from this focus group study will be used to make policy recommendations to community members and organizations that may increase culturally relevant opportunities for physical activity in ethnic minority girls, and increase awareness of such opportunities through culturally appropriate social marketing, with the hope of reducing the disparities in health and well-being outcomes for girls of ethnic minorities. [April 18, 2007]
  • Director Mary Jo Kane and Research Assistant Heather Maxwell are quoted in Rachel Blount's column in the Star Tribune. They discuss their ground breaking pilot study on how images of women athletes affect fan interest. [April 17, 2007]
  • Director Mary Jo Kane's comments in a New York Daily News article pertaining to media portrayals of female athletes in the wake of Don Imus' recent comments. [April 16, 2007]
  • Director Mary Jo Kane will be on the Dark Star WCCO radio news/talk show (http://www.wccoradio.com/pages/ 3448.php) on Monday, April 15th at 10pm. She will be discussing the upcoming Tucker Center spring lecture "Sex vs. Athletic Competence: Exploring Competing Narratives in Marketing and Promoting Women's Sports." [April 11, 2007]
  • Director Mary Jo Kane has been selected as this year's recipient of the McNamara Campus Recognition Award for her time and effort serving above and beyond the call of duty as Co-Chair (with Perry Leo, aerospace engineering/mechanics) of the Student-Athlete Academic Performance Task Force. The award was presented at the annual Scholar-Athlete Awards Banquet on the evening of Tuesday, April 3, at 6:30 p.m. in the McNamara Alumni Center. [April 9, 2007]
  • Affiliated Scholar Stephen Ross, Research Assistant Heather Maxwell, and graduate student Patrick Walsh will have a manuscript published in the International Journal of Sport Management titled "The Influence of Gender on Sponsorship Recognition." [March 20, 2007]
  • Director Mary Jo Kane was featured in a radio interview with Michelle TaFoya on WCCO Radio (830AM) from 3:30-4:00PM, March 14. She talked about the Distinguished Lecture panel entitled "Sex vs. Athletic Competence: Exploring Competing Narratives in Marketing and Promoting Women's Sports" on April 17. Dr. Kane also talked about her presentation at the Stanford University Law School's commemoration of the 35th anniversary of the passage of Title IX which was in April. [March 15, 2007]
  • Research Assistant and Doctoral Candidate in Sport Psychology, Jens Omli, will have a manuscript published in the Journal of Youth Sport entitled "What Little League Can Learn from Nintendo." [March 5, 2007]
  • A number of the Tucker Center Research Team members and affiliates will be presenting at the 2007 North American Society for Sport Management (NASSM) Conference in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, May 30-June 2, 2007.  A record number of abstracts were received and approximately 61.5%  were accepted. Heather Maxwell and Dr. Nicole LaVoi will present "Competent Athletes or Family Portraits: Content Analysis of Images on NCAA Division I Softball and Baseball Sport Marketing Posters", and Matt Soroka and Dr. Lisa Kihl will present "'Open to All' and 'Closed to Many': The Legitimacy of the Secretary of Education’s Commission on Opportunity in Athletics." Read their project abstracts by going to our “Current Projects” link. [February 28, 2007]
  • Associate Director Nicole LaVoi, on behalf of the Tucker Center, accepted the Minnesota Coalition of Women in Athletic Leadership Special Merit Award or 2006 which recognized the Tucker Center's exceptional contributions to promoting girls and women in sports. LaVoi is pictured here with Andrea Lloyd Curry. Lloyd Curry is currently a sports commentator for women's collegiate basketball, is a former Minnesota Lynx player and was the emcee of the 2007 National Girls & Women Sports Day Minnesota State Capitol which was held February 7, 2007 in the Minnesota State Capitol Rotunda. Thanks to everyone who made the event a success. Minnesota boasts the largest National Girls & Women Sports Day celebration in the country!! [March 2, 2007]
  • Associate Director, Nicole LaVoi, received a grant from the President’s Initiative on Children, Youth, and Families on behalf of the Minnesota Youth Sport Research Consortium for the project Disparities in Youth Soccer: Unequal Opportunities, Unequal Outcomes. LaVoi and graduate student Chelsey Rodd will collaborate with the Minnesota Youth Soccer Association (MYSA) and community members and leaders in Minneapolis in order to identify challenges and barriers that prevent or limit children of diverse ethnic backgrounds from participating in youth soccer. [February 9, 2007]
  • In February, Tucker Center Associate Director, Dr. Nicole LaVoi, will be visiting Algeria as a part of a U.S. State Department delegation who will deliver Unity Through Sport (USport). The USport program utilizes collaborative resources to build mutual understanding, appreciation and cooperation between the United States and the Muslim world. USport's mission is to use its resources in ambitious initiatives in public diplomacy, sports diplomacy, cultural exchange, in-country projects, and international cooperation, tolerance, and peace through sport. The delegation includes faculty from Indiana University and Purdue University, in addition to staff from the National Youth Sports Corporation (NYSC) and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). [January 18, 2007]
  • Katie Anderson, a Kinesiology senior and Tucker Center Student Research Team member, was awarded an Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) grant. She will conduct an intervention study using Dance Dance Revolution to improve the cardiovascular health, bone health and body composition of overweight Hispanic children. Dr. Moira Petit (PI), Katie Anderson, Julie Hughes, Cheryl Wick [February 7, 2007]

2006

  • Kim Resheske, an undergraduate intern in the Tucker Center and Sport Studies major in the School of Kinesiology, received an Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) grant to study sport fan motivations of intercollegiate women’s and men’s hockey game attendees. The research will be conducted the spring semester. Congratulations Kim! [November 29, 2006]
  • 2008 U.S. Women’s Open Seeks Volunteers. The 2008 U.S. Women’s Open will be held from June 23-29, 2008 at the historic Interlachen Country Club in Edina, MN. The greatest women golfers in the world including Annika Sorenstam, Karrie Webb, Michelle Wie and Minnesota native Hilary Lunke will compete in this prestigious championship in the Twin Cities. Championship organizers are currently recruiting a volunteer force of over 3,000 people to fill positions on 35 committees including gallery control, transportation, and admissions/will call. Volunteers will receive a behind the scenes look at history in the making during the 63rd U.S. Women’s Open. For more details visit www.2008uswomensopen.com. [November 21, 2006]
  • Dr. Maureen Weiss, Professor and Director of the Sport and Exercise Psychology Program in the Curry School of Education at the University of Virginia, gave a lecture, "Youth Sport as a Context for Physical and Psychosocial Development: A Multidisciplinary Perspective," presented by the Tucker Center and the Institute of Child Development at the University of Minnesota. The lecture was held on Wednesday, November 15th, from 11:30-1:00PM in 206 Cooke Hall, University of Minnesota East Bank Campus. [November 16, 2006]
  • Bonnie Reimann, School of Kinesiology graduate student and instructor of Health & Exercise Science at Gustavus Adolphus College, recently traveled to Namibia to study social justice issues. She wrote about her experiences and insights, including the impact of sport and physical education on the lives of girls. [November 10, 2006]
  • Dr. Mary Jo Kane, Director of the Tucker Center, had a live discussion titled "A New Twist on Equal Opportunity" on November 1, 2006 on the Chronicle of Higher Education's online "Colloquy." Dr. Kane fielded reader questions regarding recent cuts in men's and women's sports at James Madison University and address broader questions about using Title IX as an excuse for financial decision making. [http://chronicle.com/live/] [October 30, 2006]
  • Stephen Ross, Assistant Professor in Sport Management in the School of Kinesiology and Tucker Affiliated Scholar, was featured in a radio segment on Friday, October 27, on National Public Radio's All Things Considered. Reporter Kathy Lohr interviewed Professor Ross on how colleges are facing challenges related to alcohol use and underage drinking, and their efforts to rein in the ever-popular activity, tailgating. [October 26, 2006]
  • Diane Wiese-Bjornstal, Tucker Center Affiliated Scholar, was featured on the WCCO evening news on October 25, 2006, dicussing the recent "bad" sport behaviors of local sport parents. [http://wcco.com/topstories/local_story_298221034.html] [October 26, 2006]
  • Diane Wiese-Bjornstal, Tucker Center Affiliated Scholar, is quoted in the October 25, 2006 Pioneer Press article "A Bump, a Brawl, a Bite- All Over a Girls Softball Game." The article describes a fight between two fathers during a 12 year-old girls softball game. Dr. Wiese-Bjornstal comments on the problems with parent entitlement in youth sport. [October 25, 2006]
  • Heather Maxwell, Tucker Center Research Assistant and PhD student in Sport Management, had a guest column appear in the October 9, 2006, issue of the Street & Smith's SportsBusiness Journal titled "Developing Sports Leagues Suffer From Media's Choices." [www.sportsbusinessjournal.com (subscription)] [October, 9, 2006]
  • Tucker Center Research Assistant and PhD student in Sport Management, Heather Maxwell, conducted a workshop on marketing and sponsorship for women's intercollegiate athletics at the National Association of Collegiate Women's Athletic Administrators' (NACWAA) National Convention in Sacramento, CA on October 7, 2006. [October 5, 2006]
  • Affiliated scholar Jo Ann Buysse received the Outstanding Alumni Award from Southwest Minnesota State University on September 23, 2006. [October 5, 2006]
  • The Tucker Center will present results from recent research including sessions titled, Have You Seen Her? The Female Athlete As Contested Terrain and "Coaching Girls": A Content Analysis of Popular Press Coaching Books, at the Girls and Women Rock: Celebrating 35 Years of Sport and Title IX Symposium to be held in Cleveland March 28-March 31, 2007. [October 2, 2006]
  • This fall Tucker Center Associate Director Nicole LaVoi delivered a series of workshops. On September 17 she spoke to Augsburg College student-athletes pertaining to Mental Skills for Peak Performance. On October 6 she talked to the Minnesota State High School Girls' Basketball Coaches Association at North St. Paul High School on how to develop parents as partners in creating a positive climate for female youth basketball players. On November 4 she presented a session for the United States Tennis Association Community Development workshop at the Fort Snelling Tennis & Learning Center, pertaining to effective coaching. [September 21, 2006]
  • Recent research on race by Doug Hartmann, Tucker Center Affiliated Scholar and professor of Sociology at the U of MN, was written about in Time.com in "The Meaning of White." [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/printout/0,8816,1531296,00.html] [September 3, 2006]
  • Heather Maxwell, Tucker Center Research Assistant and PhD student in Sport Management, is quoted in the New Orleans Times Picayune in an article on the "lightning fast" ascent of sports marketing phenom Kathy Francis, a black woman holding the position of managing director of community tennis marketing and development in the United States Tennis Association. [July 19, 2006]
  • Tucker Center Affiliated Scholar Diane Wiese-Bjornstal is quoted in the current (2006 July) issue of The Rake in the article "Why Race?" which focuses on the increasing numbers of people joining organized running and racing. Wiese-Bjornstal addresses some of the psycho-social aspects or why runners participate. [http://www.rakemag.com/stories/section_detail.aspx?itemID=18742&catID=146&SelectCatID=146] [July 7, 2006].
  • Nicole LaVoi, Tucker Center Associate Director, has a chapter "Interpersonal Communication and Conflict in the Coach–Athlete Relationship" appearing in a new textbook, Social Psychology in Sport by Sophia Jowett and David Lavallee. The textbook is due out in September 2006 and is published by Human Kinetics [www.humankinetics.com/products/showproduct.cfm?isbn=0736057803] [June 11, 2006]
  • Heather Maxwell, Tucker Center Research Assistant and PhD student in Sport Management, has a guest column appearing in the May 29, 2006 issue of the SportsBusiness Journal titled "Sponsors risk future profits when they ignore WNBA." [www.sportsbusinessjournal.com (subscription)] [May 19, 2006]
  • Mary Jo Kane, Tucker Center Director, has won the prestigious University of Minnesota President's Award! Congratulations Dr. Kane! This award recognizes exceptional service to the University, its schools, colleges, departments and service units by any active or retired member of the faculty or staff. Such service must have gone well beyond the regular duties of a faculty or a staff member, and demonstrate unusual commitment to the University community. Dr. Kane will be honored at receptions at the President's home at Eastcliff and with the Board of Regents. Please join the Tucker Center and the rest of the University in extending congratulations to Dr. Kane on her receipt of this most impressive award. [April 28, 2006]
  • See Tucker Center Associate Director Nicole LaVoi's "The Golf Doctor" segments every other Saturday morning at 9:00am throughout the summer on FORE!Minnesota as she discusses the mental side of sport and offers tips for optimal performance. [sample clip from "The Golf Doctor" windows media] [April 28, 2006]
  • Kent Kaiser, PhD student in the U of M's School of Journalism/Mass Communications and Tucker Center affiliated graduate student, will present a paper entitled "Prominence of Men and Women in Newspaper Sports Coverage as an Indicator of Gender Equality Pre- and Post-Title IX" at the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) conference in San Francisco in August. [www.aejmc.org] [May 17, 2006]
  • Pathways to Fostering Civic Engagement in Collegiate Female Athletes: An Exploratory Study, by Tucker Center Associate Director Nicole M. LaVoi and the University of Notre Dame's F. Clark Power. Little empirical evidence exists to explain or predict athletic pathways to engaged citizenship. The purpose of this exploratory, cross-sectional study was to examine how civic attitudes and behaviors relate to individual athlete and team climate variables. Read the article at collegevalues.org/pdfs/Pathways.pdf [April 26, 2006]
  • Tucker Center Director Mary Jo Kane is quoted in the Athletic Business Journal in an article entitled "Sex & Sensibility" by Andrew Cohen. [article] [April 26, 2006]
  • Jay Weiner of the Star Tribune wrote an article, "Lecturer has advice, and admonitions, for budding girl athletes," on Dan Gould's Spring 2006 Tucker Center Edie Mueller Distinguished Lecture. [April 23, 2006]
  • Don Shelby interviewed the Tucker Center's Spring 2006 Edie Mueller Distinguished Lecturer Dan Gould on WCCO radio, Monday, April 24, at 4:00pm. [April 20, 2006]
  • BOXERS. "Boxers" is a film by local filmmaker Joanna Kohler about seven women claiming their own story about the love of boxing. A work-in-progress screening is in the works for this production and will be announced soon. There is great enthusiasm for this film which gives these boxers a chance to tell their story. [April 19, 2006]
  • Associate Director Nicole LaVoi published an opinion editorial piece "Damned if She Dunks, Dunked if She Does" in the Boston Herald, April 1, 2006, looking at recent controversy surrounding dunking in women's basketball from a sport sociologist's viewpoint in general and a gender binary perspective in particular.
  • Tucker Center Director Mary Jo Kane is quoted in the New York Times’ Jan. 26 issue in Harvey Araton’s "Sour Days in Knicks’ Executive Suite," an article on sexual harassment charges against Isiah Thomas.

2005

  • Mary Jo Kane, Professor and Director of the Tucker Center, is quoted extensively in the Spring 2005 issue of the U of M's "M" magazine for alumni, friends, faculty and staff in the article "Title IX: Opening doors for female athletes." While proponents and opponents still debate the numbers, there is little doubt that 33 years after it was enacted, Title IX has transformed the landscape of women's and men's athletics at the University and around the country. Check here to read the full article.

2004

  • Sports columnist Harvey Araton quotes Mary Jo Kane in his column "Perpetuating Stereotypes About Women and Athletics" in the Sunday November 21 edition of the New York Times. 
  • The October 21st edition of the Minnesota Spokesman-Reporter led with an article reviewing the Great Conversation between Mary Jo Kane and Donna Lopiano. 
  • In the most recent edition of HPERdimensions, the publication of the School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation at Indiana University, Mary Jo Kane is highlighted as a panel member along with Senator Birch Bayh, the Senate author of Title IX.
  • Mary Jo Kane quoted in "Girls prove tough enough for prep football," Pam Schmid, Minneapolis Star Tribune, October 12, 2004.
  • Cheap shots strip athletes' dignity  is a column on the recent trend of Olympic women athletes showing up in front of the camera without clothes. Mary Jo Kane, director of the Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport at the University of Minnesota, is quoted in the Chicago Sun-Times.

2003

  • Mary Jo Kane says designating cheerleading squads as athletic teams in order to qualify for federal Title IX dollars could be a slippery slope in "Cheerleading scholarships raise Title IX debate," Star Tribune, November 17, 2003.
  • Mary Jo Kane asserts that the demise of professional women's soccer has less to do with lack of support for women athletes and more to do with lack of support for soccer as a professional sport. See Lack of sponsors was fatal to women's league, Philadelphia Inquirer, Sept. 17, 2003.
  • Mary Jo Kane commented on the growing popularity for women to have a healthy, athletic body in a Toronto Star article entitled In style for women: Muscles (August 10, 2003).
  • In a July 16, 2003 article printed in the Philadelphia Inquirer, Mary Jo Kane commented on athlete's decisions to promote themselves through the media and if these actions are good for women's sports. Should women be judged on their looks rather than on their achievements?  Anna Kournikova is featured in this article.
  • Mary Jo Kane provides insight into sexualization of female athletes in a New York Times article entitled The sports bra seen around the world on July 5, 2003. (go to Sports archives)
  • Spring 2003, Mary Jo Kane was named Scholar of the Year by the Women's Sports Foundation for her contributions in the area of women's sports.
  • The annual conference of the American Association of University Women included the keynote address by Mary Jo Kane entitled, "Women in Charge in the 21st Century: Innovation and Collaboration," Providence, RI, June 21, 2003.
  • "Sociological Aspects of Sports and Physical Activity," by Mary Jo Kane, is part of a book by Janet Parks and Jerome Quarterman entitled, Contemporary Sport Management, to be published by Human Kinetics in Champaign, IL.
  • In the wake of the announcement that Annika Sorenstam will compete in the PGA Tour's Bank of America Colonial Invitational, Mary Jo Kane states, "This is yet another tangible result of the 'progress' in the wake of Title IX" in a Wall Street Journal article entitled The time is now.
  • Annika Sorenstam takes on the good ol' boys at the Colonial Invitational. Mary Jo Kane asks the question, "How far can [girls and women] go?" in the May 22, 2003 Sports Illustrated article entitled, Sorenstam's driving goal is to see how she measures up.
  • In a recent edition of The New York Times Upfront entitled, She Got Game, Mary Jo Kane poses philosophical questions in response to the new generation of women emerging as leaders in sport, such as golfer Annika Sorenstam.
  • An article in Newsweek and Real Sports quoted Mary Jo Kane on Annika Sorenstam: Women's Sports: Beyond a League of Their Own.
  • Mary Jo Kane, kinesiology professor and director of the Tucker Center for Research on Girls and Women in Sport, is not impressed by Hooters' restaurant chain as a sponsor for a women's golf tournament. "An unusual sponsor for women's golf event: Hooters," San Jose Mercury News (CA), April 30, 2003.
  • Mary Jo Kane remains optimistic about the future for professional women's sports. She also expressed concern in an article in Sports Business News. Women's sports in fight for survival The Daily Camera (Boulder County, Colo.), April 16, 2003.
  • Mary Jo Kane gave the following keynote addresses related to her research on sport, media, and gender as well as Title IX: (1) "KeyBank Cultural Diversity Lecture Series," Westminster College, Salt Lake City, Utah, March 11, 2003. (2) "National Women's History Month Lecture Series," College of St. Benedict, St. Joseph, MN, March 31, 2003.
  • Mary Jo Kane, kinesiology professor and director of the Tucker Center for Research on Girls and Women in Sport, approves a recent entry of a woman into a formerly male-only sports event. "Evolution of women in sports reaches a new stage" (Mercury News, San Jose, Calif.), March 11, 2003 and several other Knight Ridder newspapers.

2002

  • Title IX challenge by Ray Richardson, St. Paul Pioneer Press, December 15, 2002.  Some supporters of women's sports are worried the landmark law is about to make a retreat.
  • MODEL OR TENNIS PLAYER? You glow, girl, by Brian Hamilton, St. Paul Pioneer Press, December 14, 2002.Anna is coming. A not-quite-life-size cutout inside the Xcel Energy Center heralds her arrival. It captures her conflicting worlds: She intently pursues a baseline volley, but that seems incidental to her striking appearance, the tanned legs and arms, the braided, blond ponytail and whatever other alluring elements the eyes set upon. Title IX About Big Spenders, Not Genders - Mary Jo Kane quoted in the Miami Herald on December 7, 2002. Article by Linda Robertson.
  • Mary Jo Kane gave the following keynote address related to her research on Title IX: "Addressing Title IX: Past, Present, and Future Symposium," Center for Research on Sport in Society, Miami University, Miami, FL, December 6, 2002.
  • Should Augusta National Golf Club be forced to allow female members? This has been a topic of huge debate in the golfing and sporting world over the past few years. Some feel that as a private club, Augusta National has the right to exclude whomever they choose. Others have stated that because Augusta National hosts a major golf tournament which receives network coverage and corporate sponsorship, it should not be allowed to discriminate against anyone, male, female, black or white. Mary Jo Kane, Professor and Director of the Tucker Center, has publicly stated her opinion in the New York Times.
  • "WUSA Going Through Sophomore Slump in Attendance, Ratings," by Ray Glier, USA Today, August 22, 2002.
  • Fair Play: 30 Years of Title IX by Burl Gilyard, Minnesota, May-June, 2002.
  • For lots of good information on media coverage and female athletes, go to Centerpiece: Improving media coverage for women's sports. Tucker Center Director, Mary Jo Kane is extensively quoted in the featured Get the ball rolling: Education, persistence and creativity key to better coverage of women's sports. The NCAA News—May 13, 2002; By Kay Hawes.
  • Discussing the differences in the level of infractions between men's and women's sports: Women looking to keep up with men on, not in, court — Mary Jo Kane, professor, The NCAA News — May 13, 2002.
  • Check out the Women in Sports column of the Village Voice for Week of April 10 - 16, 2002. This particular column— Women Still Trail in the Greed Game of College Sports: Guys And Dollars is by Alisa Solomon.
  • A book review, by the New York Time's contributor Allison Pugh, of Harvey Araton's Alive and Kicking: When Soccer Moms Take the Field and Change Their Lives Forever. The New York Times, January 6, 2002.

2001

  • Special Report: Passion Plays, by Grant Wahl, L. Jon Wertheim, and George Dohrmann, (with Special Reporting by B.J. Schecter), Sports Illustrated, September 10, 2001, 58-70.
  • Reassessing the Athlete After a Transforming Moment, by Jere Longman, The New York Times, September 19, 2001.
  • Title IX: Second String: Gender Inequality in High School Athletics, by Carl Prine, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, May 20 (A1, A10-13), May 21 (A1, A8-9), May 22 (D1, D6-7), May 23 (C1, C6-8), 2001.
  • Why Do So Many Female Athletes Enter ACL Hell? Rash of knee injuries among women prompts concern about their training and technique, by Jennifer Jacobson, The Chronicle of Higher Education, March 23, 2001.
  • Women in Sports Cultivating New Playing Fields, by Mireya Navarro, New York Times, February 13, 2001.
  • "Women on Power: Leadership Redefined," edited by Sue J.M. Freeman, Susan C. Bourque, and Christine M. Shelton, 2001, "They Got Game, But Few Fans: Women's Teams Struggle To Increase Audiences," by Paul Farhi, Washington Post, June 7, 2001, Page A01.

2000

  • Women Athletes Often Debased by Media Images, by Glenda Crank Holste, Women's Enews, October 7, 2000
  • Curriculum Puts Women into Minnesota History, Minnesota Women's Press, July 19, 2000.
  • Video Educates Kids on Women in Sports, Minnesota Daily, May 3, 2000.

1999

  • Tucker Center Scores Big with Girls and Women, The Link, College of Education and Human Development, Fall, 1999.
  • "Objects of the Game: Olympic Female Athletes Are Disrobing for the Cameras at a Record Pace," by Joanna Cagan, Village Voice, August 30, 2000.
  • "Our Bodies, Ourselves: The Mainstream Embraces the Athletic Amazon," Village Voice, April 19, 2000.
  • "On the Olympics: Two Athletes, an Injury and a Sacrifice," by Jerry Longeman, New York Times, Sports Desk, May 25, 2000.
  • "Title IX Levels Playing Field for Funding Women's Sports," by Elizabeth Crowley, Wall Street Journal, June 22, 2000, p. A12.

Announcements Archives

  • I Exercise My Rights is a public service, informational campaign designed to educate the public about Title IX. Simply stated, Title IX is a law passed in 1972 that requires gender equity for boys and girls in every educational program that receives federal funding. This website explains the regulations in easy-to-understand language and uses real case studies as examples. In addition, it provides ways to find out about Title IX in your local community, links to many governmental and educational organizations for more detailed information and an easy-to-use e-mail system whereby you can contact the Secretary of Education in Washington, DC about Title IX.
  • Book by University of Minnesota Sociology Professor Doug Hartmann. Since 1968 a single iconic image of race in American sport has remained indelibly etched on our collective memory: sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos accepting medals at the Mexico City Olympics with their black-gloved fists raised and heads bowed. But what inspired their protest? What happened after they stepped down from the podium? And how did their gesture impact racial inequalities? Drawing on extensive archival research and newly gathered oral histories, Douglas Hartmann sets out to answer these questions, reconsidering this pivotal event in the history of American sport. He places Smith and Carlos within the broader context of the civil rights movement and the controversial revolt of the black athlete. Although the movement drew widespread criticism, it also led to fundamental reforms in the organizational structure of American amateur athletics. Moving from historical narrative to cultural analysis, Hartmann explores what we can learn about the complex relations between race and sport in contemporary America from this episode and its aftermath. The book is available from the University of Chicago Press.
  • NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Committee Selects First- and Second-Round Sites for 2004 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship. University of Minnesota, Twin Cities and Williams Arena has been selected as one out of 16 first and second round sites to host the 2004 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship on March 20 and 22 or March 21 and 23, 2005
  • Title IX Lawsuit Dismissed - National Wrestling Coaches Association. A federal judge in Washington, D.C., has dismissed the lawsuit brought by the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) and other athletics organizations against the U.S. Department of Education challenging the regulations governing Title IX. The decision to dismiss was announced June 11 in a 119-page ruling by U.S. District Judge Emmet G. Sullivan. The plaintiffs plan to appeal, and they have 60 days to do so. "The fight is far from over," said Mike Moyer, executive director of the NWCA. "We're committed to seeing this through and abolishing the quota system once and for all." Supporters of the Title IX regulations were elated by the decision, particularly the judge's ruling that the plaintiffs had failed to show a causal link between Title IX and the dropping of men's athletics programs. To read the full article, visit the NCAA website at www.ncaa.com .
  • Despite 30 Years of Title IX Gains, Sex Discrimination Still Prevalent in Schools. On June 30, 2002, the 30th anniversary of Title IX, the National Women's Law Center released the results of two intensive investigations showing that pervasive gender gaps still persist in education.
  • Annual Minnesota Women's Press Directory. The directory lists hundreds of women-owned businesses and contains a vast network of resources for women. For information about how to promote your business in the directory, call the Minnesota Women's Press at 651-646-3968 or visit their website at www.womenspress.com
  • Totally Awesome Coaches Award. The Minnesota Twins, in partnership with 3M and the Hennepin County Community Health Department, announced the creation of the Totally Awesome Coaches Award to recognize coaches of youth sports in Minnesota. The award is designed to honor coaches that, beyond teaching the fundamentals of their game, excel at promoting and demonstrating positive character traits and lifestyles to their players. For more information about this award visit the Twins community website at minnesota.twins.mlb.com
  • More Than a Game: One Woman's Fight for Gender Equity in Sport, by Cynthia Lee A. Pemberton and Donna De Varona, is now available. tinyurl.com/np2fy for more information
  • Spoilsports: Understanding and Preventing Sexual Exploitation in Sport was published in July 2001 (Routledge) by Celia Brackenridge. Spoilsports offers the first systematic theory of sexual exploitation and abuse within sport. This is an invaluable resource for both academics and policy makers seeking to understand and deal with issues of sexual exploitation in sport.
  • 2001 Report Card on Women's Health Provides Blueprint for Improving Women's Health Policies. In December, the National Women's Law Center, the Oregon Health & Science University and FOCUS on Health & Leadership for Women at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine released the second edition of Making the Grade on Women's Health: A National and State-by-State Report Card. The Report Card, which explores 33 health status indicators and 32 health policy indicators, finds that states made some progress since the release of the 2000 report, but notes that - overall - states are failing to meet the nation's goals for improving women's health.
  • Parents Prevail in Leveling the Playing Field for Michigan Girls. On December 17, 2001, a Federal District Court ruled that the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) can no longer discriminate against female high school athletes by placing their teams in nontraditional and/or disadvantageous seasons, including basketball and volleyball. National Women’s Law Center (NWLC) praised the verdict in MHSAA v. Communities for Equity (CFE) as a victory for Michigan girls and urged other state athletic associations and communities to take heed of the ruling and review their treatment of female student athletes. CFE is one of the plaintiffs in the Title IX case and NWLC is of counsel. “This ruling puts athletic associations and others who treat female athletes as second class citizens on notice that they are violating Title IX and other civil rights laws,” said Marcia D. Greenberger, NWLC Co-President.
  • GoGirlGo: Get on Board! The GoGirlGo Project is a new $1 million educational grant program dedicated to the development and funding of girls' sports programs that combine athletic skill instruction and programming with the delivery of educational information aimed at reducing risk behaviors that threaten the health and social advancement of girls aged 10 to 14. GoGirlGo kits are available now at no charge to any girls' sport programs that are interested in educating girls about health-risk behaviors. As part of the program, each girl and adult leader receives a free one-year membership in the Women's Sports Foundation. For more informat6ion or to participate in the GoGirlGo Project, please call the Foundation at 800-227-3988 or visit www.womenssportsfoundation.org
  • Women on Power: Leadership Redefined, by Sue J.M. Freeman, Susan C. Bourque, and Christine M. Shelton, with forward by Jill Ker Conway. Women have made enormous strides into the professional workplace over the last two decades, yet few have assumed leadership roles in the higher ranks of predominately male occupations: business, politics, the professions, and sport. This pioneering collection by experts in a variety of disciplines combines theoretical discussions with historical and contemporary case studies to offer a fresh vista on how gender has influenced and redefined today's notions of leadership and power. The provocative essays cover a broad range of topics' including the Boston Women's Health Book Collective, global perspectives on women's environmental activism, mothering as a catalyst to social activism, and women in the enclaves of veterinary medicine and sports.
  • Eating Disorders and Adolescent Health: Targeting Specific Racial/Ethnic Groups. The BodyWise packet, which focuses on promoting awareness and knowledge of eating disorders among middle school personnel, emphasizes the link between healthy eating, positive body image, and favorable learning outcomes. The packet has been updated to include information about eating disorders among students of various racial/ethnic backgrounds, as well as materials for parents and updated resources guide. The expanded focus is part of the Office on Women's Health (OWH) Initiative to End Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health. The BodyWise materials include easy-to-read fact sheets about body image and eating disorders for specific school personnel, as well as resource lists of organizations and materials. During the the fall of 2000, OWH distributed 10,000 packets were sent out to randomly selected teachers, administrators, nurses, counselors, coaches, and health instructors who work with 5th, 6th, and 7th grade students.
  • "Higher Goals: Women’s Ice Hockey and the Politics of Gender" by Nancy Theberge, offers a fascinating ethnography of physicality and gender relations in women’s team contact sports. The most extensive treatment to date of women’s experiences in team sports, Higher Goals provides an ethnographic account of the Blades, a Canadian team that plays at the highest levels of women’s hockey. With a vivid depiction of life on the Blades, the book follows the team over two seasons, tracing their journey to a national championship. Key issues in the sociology of sport and gender studies are explored, including the construction of community among women athletes; the "feminine apologetic" and pressures on athletes to conform to feminine ideals; homophobia and the experiences of lesbian athletes; and physicality and women’s experience in contact sports.