KINGSTON, R.I.- October 19, 2018 – New York Times bestselling author Dave Zirin takes audiences inside the modern world of sports for a provocative look at the interplay between politics, culture and the games we love.
His talk, “Reimagining Masculinity, Sports, and Resistance” is part of the University’s 2018 Honors Colloquium on Reimagining Gender: Voices, Power, Action. The series is free and open to the public and takes place at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 30, in Edwards Hall, 64 Upper College Road.
Named one of UTNE Reader’s “50 Visionaries Who Are Changing Our World” Zirin is The Nation’s first ever sports writer. Referred to as the “conscience of American sports writing” by The Washington Post, Zirin is also a regular op-ed writer for the Los Angeles Times. In addition to his writing, Zirin hosts the “Edge of Sports” podcast and the popular Washington, D.C., radio show, “The Collision with Etan Thomas and Dave Zirin.”
Zirin is the author of multiple books, including “Brazil’s Dance with the Devil: The World Cup, the Olympics, and the Fight for Democracy” and his latest, “Jim Brown: Last Man Standing.” He is a sought-after TV and radio commentator, featured frequently on NBC, ESPN and MSNBC. Zirin was also included in “The Best of American Sports Writing 2017” for his writing in The Nation.
From class, race and sex to religion and society, Zirin brings his unique point of view on sports and politics to the stage, revealing how on-the-field play shapes and reflects what is happening off-the-field in America and around the world.
Reimagining Gender: Voices, Power, Action will explore, at this pivotal time in society, the relevance of gender in shaping human rights and how our rising consciousness about gender issues is leading to vibrant social discussions, rearrangements of power and perceptions, and new possibilities. The series includes lectures, exhibits, a theater production and a film screening, all intended to help demonstrate the significant impact of women in society and to deepen the conversation about gender roles and stereotypes and the impact they have on our actions.
Coordinators of the 2018 colloquium, marking its 55th year, are Rosario Pisa, professor and director of URI’s Gender and Women’s Studies program; Kyle Kusz, associate professor of kinesiology; Helen Mederer, professor and chair of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology; and Smita Ramnarain, assistant professor of economics.
MAJOR Sponsor URI Honors Program
Sponsors URI Office of the President • URI Office of the Provost • The Mark and Donna Ross Honors Colloquium Humanities Endowment • The Thomas Silvia and Shannon Chandley Honors Colloquium Endowment • URI College of Arts and Sciences • URI College of Arts and Sciences Kenneth and Susan Kermes Distinguished Lecture Endowment • URI College of Pharmacy • URI John Hazen White Sr. Center for Ethics and Public Service • URI Gender and Women’s Studies Program • URI Office of Community, Equity and Diversity • URI Theatre Department • URI College of Engineering • URI College of the Environment and Life Sciences • URI College of Health Sciences • URI College of Business • URI College of Nursing • URI Division of Student Affairs • URI Department of Communications and Marketing • URI Department of Publications and Creative Services • URI ITS Instructional Technology and Media Services • URI Alan Shawn Feinstein College of Education and Professional Studies • URI Department of Computer Science and Statistics • URI Department of Economics • URI Department of English • URI Department of Sociology and Anthropology • URI Gender and Sexuality Center • URI Multicultural Student Services Center • URI Department of Fisheries, Animal and Veterinary Science.