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Lapchick’s speech inspires campus
 Media Credit: Blair Schlichte Richard Lapchick speaks to students about “Sport in Society; Bridging the Racial Divide,” in Ritsche Auditorium Monday. Lapchick has coached for basketball at St. John’s (New York) Unveristy and for the New York Knicks. He has also appeared on Nightline, Good Morning America, ABC World News, CBS Evening News, ESPN, and CNN multiple times.
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“Some of you may be asking, ‘Why is this 50 year old white guy talking about race in sports,’” the prestigious sports figure Richard Lapchick asked as he took the podium in Ritche Auditorium Monday night.
However, after he explained his experience, research and dedication in the field of sport, the audience of 300 attendees understood. Lapchick said he has become equipped with the tools to dissect and view sports in society in a different light. He addressed the topic, “Sport in Society: Bridging the Racial Divide.”
“I’ve seen people who hated each other’s guts before being on a team together and then giving each other hugs after,” he said.
Commonly known as the “racial conscience of sport,” Lapchick has dedicated most of his life to promoting equality and positive social change.
One of his first major accomplishments was founding and directing Northeastern University’s Center for the Study of Sport and Society.
In his speech, Lapchick talked about the predominant role of sports in modern society, the dilemmas today’s youth face, racial discrimination and positive roles athletes can sustain.
“Racism is not geographically bound, but exists everywhere in our country,” he said.
Lapchick said college campuses are a common breeding ground for hate.
“College campuses are the third biggest site for hate crimes today,” Lapchick said. “Our young people have learned how to hate, there is too much violence in our community.”
Lapchick said social change can only prevail if people take the initiative to act.
“We can bring about change, we need you to get involved. You have the power to change lives,” he said.
In the American sport oriented culture, he said sports figures are often put on pedestals. As a result, he said, they should dedicate their time to service in order to be constructive role models.
“People who are engaged in service realize how powerful it is,” he said.
Professor of Physical Education and Sports Science, Ray Collins, said sport and sports figures are definitely influential at SCSU.
“His message was very inspirational, sport has the ability to change society,” Collins said. “St. Cloud teams are certainly present in the community.”
Collins said SCSU teams often shed a positive light in the community by dedicating time to service and modeling justice and equality. For example, he said, the hockey team does reading sessions with children.
Athletes should act with moral integrity to prevent hate and discrimination, said Andrea Benett, SCSU basketball player.
“There is a lot of truth in (Lapchick’s speech),” she said. “Whether we like it or not, we are a spotlight in the community. If you reach out to other people and show them who you really are, they will understand.”
Junior Josh Williams, a football player, said he thought it was important for athletes to model ethical values.
“(Being an athlete means) knowing that if you do something wrong, it’s going to be seen by a lot of people,” Williams said. ‘I think community service is basically good for anybody. For an athlete it’s good for younger kids.”
Throughout his life, Lapchick has experienced hate because of he and his father’s beliefs on racial equality.
His father, Joe Lapchick, a renowned basketball player who coached for St. John’s University in New York and the New York Knicks, sparked his passion in sports and social change.
Besides being a famous coach, his father was controversial because of his non-discriminatory racial attitude. His team drafted the first black basketball player in the NBA.
“I’m extremely proud of who my father was,” Lapchick said.
Lapchick holds a chair position in the DeVos Eminent Scholar and Sports Business Management program at the University of Central Florida. He has also written 10 books and 450 articles on sports and sociology topics.
In addition, he has appeared on Nightline, Good Morning America, ABC World News, CBS Evening News, ESPN and CNN multiple times.
Lapchick ended his speech with a call for action. He said people must act to attain social change.
“Givers always win, takers always lose,” he said.
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