Event will take place on Sept. 25 in conjunction with Chelsea Football Club & New England Revolution, as part of their Final Whistle on Hate Initiative
Edited by: JV Staff
Fordham University’s School of Professional and Continuing Studies (PCS) will host hundreds of industry executives, athletes, journalists, scholars and activists from around the world for a landmark conference on anti-Semitism in sports. The Global Symposium on Sports and Society: Anti-Semitism and Sports will be held from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 25 at the University’s Rose Hill Campus, Bronx, N.Y.
The event, presented in conjunction with Chelsea Football Club, New England Revolution and their Final Whistle on Hate campaign, will bring together some of the world’s most iconic names in the industry for an in-depth discussion on anti-Semitism, its interface with sports, and strategies for changing the playing field.
The first-of-its-kind symposium comes at crucial time, as a recent rise in bias crimes is casting the spotlight on hate and forcing a national conversation. Instances of prejudice often go unchecked, however, behind the scenes in some of the most high-profile places – including in the world of sports.
Anti-Semitism and Sports will feature an all-star line-up of speakers including Yael Averbuch, executive director, NWSLPA; Bruce Buck, chairman, Chelsea Football Club; Charlie Davies, club ambassador and former player, New England Revolution; Michael Giarrusso, global sports editor, Associated Press; Ross Greenburg, former president, HBO Sports; Anna Isaacson, senior VP of social responsibility, NFL; Kenneth Jacobson, deputy national director, Anti-Defamation League; Spencer Ross, renowned sportscaster; Irv Smalls, executive director, FC Harlem LIONS; Leigh Steinberg, chairman and CEO, Steinberg Sports & Entertainment; Grant Wahl, lead soccer reporter, Sports Illustrated; and Barry Wilner, prolific author and legendary sports reporter, Associated Press.
“We are pleased to partner with Fordham PCS on this important event, bringing together a large number of different sports and organizations. We are all deeply concerned that nearly 75 years after the end of World War II, instances of anti-Semitism are increasing around the world,” said Buck. “Sports must play its part in putting an end to racism and discrimination on the pitch and in wider society, and Chelsea remains committed to leading this fight.”
The event will feature executive discussions, a luncheon, industry panel sessions and a VIP cocktail reception. Event partners include the Anti-Defamation League, Associated Press, Shoah Foundation, Maccabi USA, Sports Business Institute, Co-Communications, Inc., The Conversation, and Jewish Heritage Sports Association, Inc.
“Despite how much we have evolved as a society, we unfortunately still see anti-Semitism throughout the world on a daily basis, both on and off the sports field,” said Dr. Anthony Davidson, dean, Fordham PCS. “This symposium will examine the realities of anti-Semitism and discuss how we can utilize sports to change the playing field.”
The Global Symposium on Sports and Society serves as the official launch of an event series from Fordham PCS.
Planned upcoming symposia will focus on the intersection of sports with other cross-sections of society such as women, youth and ethnicity.
“At ADL, we are all too familiar with this dangerous climate of rising anti-Semitism. From 2015 to 2018, we have documented a 99 percent increase in anti-Semitic incidents – including assault, harassment and vandalism,” said Jacobson. “The sports world is no exception and it’s a step forward that industry leaders are realizing the important role they play in combating hate. We are proud to partner with Fordham PCS and other distinguished groups and individuals in coming together to find solutions to mitigate against the world’s oldest form of hatred: anti-Semitism.”
The Global Symposium on Sports and Society: Anti-Semitism and Sports will take place Wednesday, Sept. 25 in the McGinley Campus Center at the Fordham University Rose Hill Campus, Bronx, N.Y. Tickets can be purchased for $95 for the full day, with special reduced pricing for high school and college students, as well as groups. For more information, a full agenda and list of speakers, and to purchase tickets visit: https://bit.ly/2lT3EjO.
ABOUT FORDHAM SCHOOL OF PROFESSIONAL AND CONTINUING STUDIES: The School of Professional and Continuing Studies (PCS) offers students a quality education in a small, personalized atmosphere that promotes individual growth and exploration. With three convenient campus locations – Lincoln Center in Manhattan, Rose Hill in the Bronx and West Harrison in Westchester, PCS is poised to meet students’ academic needs. Classes are offered evenings, weekends and online in areas including Business, Organizational Leadership, Economics, Legal and Policy Studies, and Social Work. Certificates in Digital and Social Media Marketing and Human Resource Management are also available, as well as Post-Baccalaureate / Pre-Medical / Pre-Health. The Fordham Real Estate Institute, which is part of PCS, offers a Master’s Degree and multiple Certificate Programs in Real Estate at the Westchester and Lincoln Center campuses. Visit www.pcs.fordham.edu for more information.
ABOUT FORDHAM UNIVERSITY: Founded in 1841, Fordham is the Jesuit University of New York, offering exceptional education distinguished by the Jesuit tradition across nine schools. Fordham awards baccalaureate, graduate, and professional degrees to approximately 15,000 students from Fordham College at Rose Hill, Fordham College at Lincoln Center, the Gabelli School of Business (undergraduate and graduate), the School of Professional and Continuing Studies, the Graduate Schools of Arts and Sciences, Education, Religion and Religious Education, and Social Service, and the School of Law. The University has residential campuses in the Bronx and Manhattan, a campus in West Harrison, N.Y., the Louis Calder Center Biological Field Station in Armonk, N.Y., and the London Centre in the United Kingdom.
ABOUT CHELSEA FOOTBALL CLUB: Chelsea Football Club is an English professional football club. Founded in 1905, it competes in the Premier League, the top division of English football. Chelsea are among England’s most successful clubs, having won over 30 competitive honors, including 6 top-flight titles, 8 FA Cups, 5 League Cups, 2 UEFA Europa Leagues, 2 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cups, 1 UEFA Champions League, and 1 UEFA Super Cup. Their home ground is Stamford Bridge in Fulham, London. In 2018, Chelsea Football Club in collaboration with the New England Revolution formed Final Whistle on Hate, a partnership aimed at promoting tolerance and fighting anti-Semitism.
ABOUT NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION: The New England Revolution is an American professional soccer club based in the Greater Boston area that competes in Major League Soccer, in the Eastern Conference of the league. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league since its inaugural season.
