Former Syracuse and NFL quarterback Donald McPherson poses with Oprah Winfrey in 2002.
April 15, 2016
Story by Joe Vinduska
Courtesy photo submitted
Barton Community College will host a presentation by former Syracuse University and NFL quarterback Donald McPherson titled “You Throw like a Girl: Challenging the Perceptions and Changing the Culture.” There will be two presentations. One will be at 8 p.m. Monday, April 25 in the Kirkman Gymnasium and will be a “student speaking engagement.” All high school students and community members are welcome to attend. The event is sponsored by Barton student Life and Barton Athletics.
The other presentation will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday, April 26 in the Shafer Art Gallery and will be focusing his discussion on society’s narrow expectations of masculinity and its effects on women for local business and law enforcement professionals. The Family Crisis Center is inviting local professionals to attend this event this event is sponsored by the Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence.
Barton’s Sexual Misconduct and Assault Resource Team (SMART) will be hosting events as part of Sexual Assault Awareness month.
For more than 27 years, McPherson has used the power and appeal of sport to address complex social justice issues. He has created innovative programs, supported community service providers and has provided educational seminars and lectures throughout North America. Since 1986 McPherson has delivered school and community based programs addressing issues such as drunk driving, alcohol and substance abuse, bullying, youth leadership and mentoring. In 1995 McPherson turned his focus to the issue of “men’s violence against women,” as director of Sport in Society’s Mentors in Violence Prevention Program, taking over for the program’s founder, Jackson Katz. McPherson emerged as a national leader and advocate for the prevention of sexual and domestic violence. He has conducted workshops and lectures for more than 250 college campuses, community organizations and national sports and violence prevention organizations. His programs and lectures have reached more than 1 million people. – Donald McPherson.com