During the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, headlines around the world called attention to the amazing feats of the women athletes—as if women had taken over the Games. The intensity, sacrifice, hard work, skill, grace, and sheer elegance of women competitors from all continents became apparent.
   With that foothold on public interest, former Olympic swimmer  Donna de Varona  was able to present the USA women’s soccer team in a match against the Chinese that filled the Rose Bowl with 90,000 spectators and captivated a world wide TV audience in 1999.
   In Sydney, Australia, this year the presence of women is even stronger. The organizers decided to celebrate the participation of women in the ceremonial lighting of the Olympic Torch which was carried by six great former athletes—one great champion now in a wheelchair— concluding with Kathy Freeman, a shy Australian aborigine who runs the 400 meters and who gives hope to women all over the world of what they can do if they follow their dreams.
   It was not always so accept able to be a woman athlete. Pat Connolly, a three time Olympian, will briefly discuss the participation of women in Olympic sports and show an ABC -TV SPORTS film— “A Passion To Play: Mothers of Strength & Spirit.” 
The discussion will be held at noon on November 16, 2000, in the Virginia Room of Heth Hall.  Please join us for lunch and a lively talk.
   If sports just isn’t your bag, perhaps the topic of reproductive choice would be more intriguing.  Dr. Mary Atwell will present “Right, Left, or Center?  The Supreme Court and Women’s Issues” at noon on October 26, 2000, in the Virginia Room of Heth Hall.
   Dr. Atwell has been following the progress of the Christy Brzonkala case ever since Ms. Brzonkala came forward about being raped at Virginia Tech. Her case, US v Morrison, came to involve not only how institutions deal with rape, but larger issues of whether the federal government can play a role for victims.
   The other case Dr. Atwell will discuss is the “partial birth abortion” case. States Atwell, “Like most women, I am watching closely every time the Supreme Court revisits the issue of reproductive choice.”

   Brown Bag discussions are typically held monthly on Thursdays at noon.  If you would like to suggest a brown bag topic or if you’re interested in leading one, please contact Pam in the Women’s Studies office by calling 831-6143 or e-mail wstudies@radford.edu.
   The Women’s Studies Program welcomes participation by  all students, faculty, and community members in our brown bag series.  Feel free to bring your lunch, and bring a friend!
_____________________________________
    ¹This article was jointly written by Pat Connolly, Mary Atwell, and Pam Alexander.