Lapchick Addresses Potsdam Staff and Student-Athletes

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Dr. Richard Lapchick with SUNY Potsdam Athletic Director Jim Zalacca

POTSDAM, NY (02/28/2012)(readMedia)-- Dr. Richard E. Lapchick addressed over 200 SUNY Potsdam staff members and student-athletes in Kellas Hall this evening. The Director of the Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport spoke about the experiences that shaped him and the positive affect that both coaches and student-athletes can have on the people around them.

Athletics staff, faculty and other campus community members attended the earlier of the two presentations and heard Lapchick discuss the racial inequality he witnessed in sports firsthand. As the son of NBA Hall of Fame player and coach Joe Lapchick, he grew up around star athletes such as Jackie Robinson and Kareem Abdul Jabbar. He also saw racial epithets directed toward them by journalists, coaches and fellow athletes. These experiences and the example set by his father helped turn Lapchick into a human rights activist committed to the belief "that sport can be an effective instrument of positive social change."

Among Lapchick's messages to staff members was to believe in the mission of their organization and to "do things the right way." He also stressed that a team has to play together regardless of race or religion in order to win. He closed the presentation by making the point that coaches have a tremendous opportunity to positively influence student-athletes during their time in school and afterward.

In the later session, Lapchick spoke to Bears athletes about the power of sports. Using the examples of Penn State, Michael Vick and Magic Johnson he explained how sports helped raise awareness of child abuse, dog fighting and AIDS. In discussing 9/11 and the Virginia Tech shooting, Lapchick pointed out how baseball helped the healing process for those affected by signaling the start of a return to normalcy. He also reminded the audience that sport can change society. He used the example of President Obama crediting Jackie Robinson for helping to make his presidency possible.

The big message Lapchick drove home to the attending student-athletes was the power they have.

"We use the platform of sport because athletes are young and admired," said Lapchick. "Many young people don't believe adults care, but they'll listen to you. Student-athletes have an incredible power to affect young people. You have the power to change."

Lapchick is the Chair of the DeVos Sports Business Management Graduate Program at the University of Central Florida and the founder and president of the National Consortium for Academics and Sport (NCAS). The NCAS is made up of 230 colleges and universities that have helped more than 31,800 student-athletes return to get their degrees and as well as provided community service to aid the nation's youth.

Lapchick has authored 16 books, over 500 articles, is a prolific public speaker as well as a regular columnist for ESPN.com and The Sports Business Journal. He has also appeared numerous times on Good Morning America, Face the Nation, The Today Show, CNN and ESPN.