Freeman Lecture Poster (.pdf format)

Oct. 16, 2002

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The advancement of African-American women through athletics will be the topic of the University of South Carolina’s annual Adren?e Glover Freeman Lecture at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 24.

USC women’s track coach Curtis Frye will join Demetria Washington and Me’Lisa Barber, two members of USC’s national championship track team, for a panel discussion, “Celebrating the Empowerment of African American Women Through Athletics.” The Freeman lecture, which is free and open to the public, will be held in Gambrell Hall auditorium.

The event also will honor the 30th anniversary of Title IX and the USC women’s track team, which earned the university’s first team national championship this year.

“Thanks to Title IX, young African-American women and all women enjoy athletic opportunities that teach the teamwork and leadership skills that translate into success in many areas,” said Frye. “Title IX has opened countless doors for many deserving young women, making our society stronger and our future brighter.”

Frye was named the 2002 Women’s Outdoor National Coach of the Year and the SEC Coach of the Year. He also has been named assistant coach to the U.S. Women’s Track and Field Olympic Staff for the 2004 Olympic games in Athens, Greece. Among the notable athletes Frye has coached are Olympic medal winners Marian Jones, La Tasha Colander-Richardson, Monique Hennagan and Melissa Morrison.

Barber earned a gold medal in the 2001 World University Games as part of the USA 4×400 meter relay team and a 2002 NCAA championship in the 4×100 meter relay. She is a four-time SEC champion and 11-time All American. Washington was part of the four-woman team that set a USC record in the 4×400 meter relay and helped propel the USC team to the national championship in June. She was a 2001 indoor 400-meter NCAA champion, ran in the World Championships and was the champion in two events in the World University Games.

The Freeman lecture was established in 1993 by the Women’s Studies Program in memory of Adren?e Glover, a Columbia attorney who was active in civic affairs and served on the Community Advisory Board of USC’s Women’s Studies Program.

The 2002 Freeman lecture is co-sponsored by USC’s College of Liberal Arts, African American Studies Program and the Women’s Studies Partnership Council.

USC’s Women’s Studies Program is planning additional events to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Title IX the week of Oct. 28. For more information, call 777-4007 or visit the Web site:www.cla.sc.edu/WOST.