College of Health and Human Performance

UF and ESPN’s The Undefeated host Wasdin Town Hall on race, sports and the media

UF and ESPN’s The Undefeated host Wasdin Town Hall on race, sports and the media

Nathan Whitaker, New York Times best-selling author, moderates a conversation with Artis Gilmore, retired ABA and NBA basketball player, and Tom Wasdin, retired NCAA basketball coach, about college basketball during the late 1960's and early 1970's.

Updated Nov. 22, 2019 (Gainesville, Fla.) - How do black athletes use their influence through relationships with the media, leverage social media and then stay involved in the discussion once they retire?

On Nov.12, the University of Florida Wasdin Speaker Series welcomed prominent athletes and speakers—ranging from three-time Olympian Michelle Carter to New York Times best-selling author Nathan Whitaker—to speak on the panel “Sport, Social Justice and the Media.”

“Sport, Social Justice and the Media” provided moderated discussions on how black athletes establish and use their influence through their relationship with the media. Special guests shared their personal experiences, as well as the challenges and opportunities they faced during the course of their careers.

The Wasdin Speaker Series is an annual event sponsored by UF alumni Susie and Tom Wasdin. This year’s “town hall” installment was a collaborative effort between the College of Health and Human Performance, the College of Journalism and Communications and the Levin College of Law. It marks the first time the event was hosted in direct collaboration with The Undefeated, ESPN’s platform for exploring the intersections of race, sports and culture.

The event was recorded in front of an audience at the Harn Museum of Art on the UF campus. 

2019 WASDIN TOWN HALL
Sport, Social Justice and the Media

Featuring:

  • A.J. Andrews, Professional Softball Player
  • Michelle Carter, Olympic Champion, Women’s Shot Put
  • Artis Gilmore, Retired ABA and NBA Basketball Player
  • Cameron Hall, UF College of Public Health & Health Professions Freshman
  • Grant Holloway, 110 Meter Hurdles World Champion
  • Mike “Mouse” Holloway, NCAA Men’s and Women’s Track & Field and Cross Country Coach
  • Kevin Merida, Senior VP and Editor-in-Chief, ESPN’s The Undefeated
  • Lonnae O’Neal, Senior Writer, The Undefeated
  • Marcus Pollard, Director of Player Engagement, Jacksonville Jaguars
  • Jason Reid, Senior NFL Writer, The Undefeated
  • Michael Reid, Professor and Dean, UF College of Health & Human Performance
  • Max Siegel, Entrepreneur and CEO, USA Track & Field
  • Alanis Thames, UF College of Journalism and Communications Senior
  • Etan Thomas, Retired NBA Player
  • Tom Wasdin, Retired NCAA Basketball Coach
  • Nathan WhitakerNew York Times Best-Selling Author
  • Cameron Wolfe, ESPN.com NFL Nation Reporter, Miami Dolphins

Watch on YouTube / Download


Video Segments

Watch on YouTube / Download

Watch on YouTube / Download

Watch on YouTube / Download

Watch on YouTube / Download

Watch on YouTube / Download

Watch on YouTube / Download

Watch on YouTube / Download


Media Coverage

ESPN Front Row - The Undefeated, University Of Florida Convene Forum On “Sports, Social Justice and the Media” Tuesday

ESPN's The Undefeated

The Alligator - UF community discusses sports, social justice in ESPN speaker series

WCJB - Prominent athletes speak at diversity town hall held at Harn Museum

WRUF - UF Welcomes ESPN's The Undefeated


View additional photos from the event on our Facebook album or download all the photos from Dropbox.com


 

Read more inclusion, diversity, equity and access news at HHP >

Read more HHP News >