Rutgers University hosted a gays-in-sports panel discussion last week. The event was put together in part by Sean Smith (right), whom Outsports introduced a couple years ago. He’s a former swimmer and swim coach at Rutgers.
One of the interesting observations came from Matthew Pletcher, an assistant wrestling coach at the University, a former wrestler and heterosexual, who apparently said that homosexuality is common in wrestling. “The fact is that it does exist - in my sport and in all sports,” he said.
Also of interest was the reporter’s observation that very few students were in attendance. I’ve come to realize you just can’t affect students with panel discussions. Unless you get someone who will attract people who don’t already agree with you (like a big-time NFL player) to talk, or have it be mandated for athletes, the students you need to reach just aren’t going to show up.
on Nov 11th, 2009 at 4:19 pm
Hmm..as a doctoral scholar whose research area is in sexuality and sport, I would have loved to have known about this panel!
on Nov 11th, 2009 at 4:38 pm
Sorry Austin, but I didn’t know about it until after the fact. If anyone is hosting events like this, please let us know so we can post it on the blog!
on Nov 11th, 2009 at 6:04 pm
Yeah, I wonder if the reporter who made this observation had REPORTED it before the fact either.
on Nov 12th, 2009 at 10:06 am
I am shocked — SHOCKED — that there’s homosexual tendencies in wrestling.
on Nov 12th, 2009 at 11:52 am
I cannot find Matthew Pletcher listed as an assistant coach at Rutgers on their website — or listed as a coach — at all. Is he still an assistant coach?
The Athletic Director apparently is very supportive of a “diverse” campus and called the Dean of Students to show his support for the Panel.
on Nov 14th, 2009 at 11:16 pm
no he’s not. he left after his first season as a coach i believe. Plus, I think Rutgers got rid of the swim team soon after, so its good that he left.
i’m pretty sure that information is up on the article about him on this website.
on Nov 18th, 2009 at 11:48 am
Matt is an assistant wrestling coach that is finishing his degree this year. I swam at RU from 2002-2005 and coached from 2005-2006. The men’s swim team was cut in the summer of 2006.
Just trying to clarify some things there.
Sorry I didn’t let you guys know about this before hand. I wasn’t sure how big or small it was going to be and like you guys mentioned on your podcast, not sure how great panel discussions are at reaching certain audiences. Still a great event to be a part of and glad I was invited.