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The Daily OrangeSU's Women in Sports chapter first in nation
By Dawn Rzeznikiewicz
Posted: 10/28/09, 2:40 AM EST Section: News
The national organization Women in Sports and Events is synonymous with cities like Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. Now, Syracuse will join those ranks. Syracuse University will be the first college to host a collegiate chapter of WISE.
"WISE takes great pride in fostering student relationships and helping to bridge the gap from college to the professional work environment for those interested in the field," said Sue Rodin, national WISE founder and president, in an e-mail.
The program will link female SU students to female executives in the sports industry. An advisory board consisting of successful women in the sports field will be available to give information and advice to members of the chapter throughout the year. Panels, speakers and social events are also in the works for the future.
Rodin and SU's Department of Sport Management in the College of Human Ecology have worked together for a year to start the chapter at the university. After reviewing SU's proposal, the national program unanimously voted in favor of making SU the flagship school, said Kate O'Neil Futrell, an administrative assistant in Sport Management.
The program is not limited to Sport Management students, Futrell said. The SU chapter will hold a general interest meeting Friday at 10:30 a.m. in Kittredge Auditorium in Huntington Beard Crouse Hall. There are already about 20 girls involved, Futrell said.
The club has started recruiting women in the sports industry to serve as mentors to members. Kathrine Switzer is an SU alumna, an author and a lecturer on women in sports, particularly on the topic of women running marathons in the late 1960s.
"You got to imagine what it was like being an iconic athlete when I was at school. To see the opportunities in sports management today - it's phenomenal," Switzer said.
Switzer has volunteered to help with SU's WISE chapter and said she's eager to help SU create opportunities for young women.
"Now young women can study and interact with the organization to do what I had to do myself."
"WISE takes great pride in fostering student relationships and helping to bridge the gap from college to the professional work environment for those interested in the field," said Sue Rodin, national WISE founder and president, in an e-mail.
The program will link female SU students to female executives in the sports industry. An advisory board consisting of successful women in the sports field will be available to give information and advice to members of the chapter throughout the year. Panels, speakers and social events are also in the works for the future.
Rodin and SU's Department of Sport Management in the College of Human Ecology have worked together for a year to start the chapter at the university. After reviewing SU's proposal, the national program unanimously voted in favor of making SU the flagship school, said Kate O'Neil Futrell, an administrative assistant in Sport Management.
The program is not limited to Sport Management students, Futrell said. The SU chapter will hold a general interest meeting Friday at 10:30 a.m. in Kittredge Auditorium in Huntington Beard Crouse Hall. There are already about 20 girls involved, Futrell said.
The club has started recruiting women in the sports industry to serve as mentors to members. Kathrine Switzer is an SU alumna, an author and a lecturer on women in sports, particularly on the topic of women running marathons in the late 1960s.
"You got to imagine what it was like being an iconic athlete when I was at school. To see the opportunities in sports management today - it's phenomenal," Switzer said.
Switzer has volunteered to help with SU's WISE chapter and said she's eager to help SU create opportunities for young women.
"Now young women can study and interact with the organization to do what I had to do myself."
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