UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN • SPRING 2003 IN THIS ISSUE Energy, progress, positive change. In all of its definitions, the word movement describes the dynamic state of kinesiology today. Movement encompasses the scientific study of human motion, the importance of activity on growth and development, the role of sport in society, the exploration of new directions, and emerging trends. brings you research findings and thoughtful insights on developments in kinesiology, as well as continuing updates on faculty, students, and your fellow alumni. Lake Forest Fitness Center (See page 2) From the Dean . .1 Alumni Profile: James Walton . .2 The Sport Business Industry . .4 Making a Difference . .6 Development News . .7 Sport Business Industry (See page 4) In Memoriam: Lucile M. Swift . .7 Alumni News . .8 Faculty News . .12 Published two times a year by: Division News . .14 University of Michigan Division of Kinesiology 401 Washtenaw Avenue Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2214 SAVE THE DATES Office of the Dean (734) 764-5210 Details to Follow Office of Development (734) 615-4272 Office of Alumni Relations (734) 647-2696 UM Alumni Association (734) 764-0384 Kinesiology Alumni Reunion Beverly Ulrich, Professor and Dean Friday, October 17, 2003 Jeff Freshcorn, Director of Development Michigan Union Shelly Kovacs, Director of Alumni Relations Cheryl Israel, Writer and Editor Robin Little, Contributor Movement for Life Golf Outing Editorial Assistants: Jennifer Leech, Kristin Reis August 11, 2003 University of Michigan Golf Course Web Site: www.kines.umich.edu/ FROM THE DEAN Greetings, to our alumni and friends of Kinesiology, It is always a pleasure to take a few moments to introduce our latest edi- tion of Movement to you and draw your attention to some of the exciting things happening here in Ann Arbor. By the time this magazine reaches you it will be spring. This is the time of year when many of us recall the New Year’s resolutions we made and then promptly ignored, such as to lose weight and exercise more. The thought of wearing shorts and bathing suits is enough to resurrect them. And so, it seems fitting that we focus in this issue on two areas in which our faculty and students in Kinesiology work that are dedicated to building the skills and behavior patterns that support the maintenance of an active lifestyle and the business that surrounds the marketing and management of sport and physical activity. It is sad, but true, that as a state, Michigan continues to rank among those with the highest rates of obesity in the nation. Adults, at least, seem to recognize the core function of physical activity in controlling body weight and managing associated problems, like diabetes, heart problems, fatigue, and so on. But too many people simply fail to act on this knowledge. In Kinesiology, our Physical Education faculty focuses on ways to improve people’s willingness and ability to act on this information. They prepare future teachers to help schoolchildren develop exercise and sport skills, build self confidence, and acquire habits—behavior patterns that persist—even when a teacher or coach isn’t prompting them to keep moving. In this edition of Movement you will read about James Walton, a graduate of our Physical Education program, who has devoted his career to helping children in the Lake Forest Schools develop these skills. In his role as director of physical education and principal he has been able to excite an entire school district with a new approach to building fitness skills and motivation. (Check out the arti- cle on page 2.) An interesting paradox is that while as a nation we grow fatter every year, we also spend more money annu- ally on the sport industry. The impact on our economy of the businesses that surround sport continues to grow and encompasses a wide variety of elements, from advertising via sports, to sport franchises, sales of sporting equipment and club memberships. This growing industry creates a wealth of jobs for students graduating from our Sport Management program who want to enter this aspect of the business world. Like sport itself, it’s a com- petitive market. The entry-level opportunities are broad and, for those who are truly dedicated to working their way up in the field, the chances for promotion to jobs with significant responsibilities and commensurate salaries are also high. On page 4, you’ll read more about this fascinating field and hear comments from some of our alumni about their experiences as members of this growing industry. In conclusion, I wish you a happy, healthy, active spring. Use what you learned in the PE classroom or invest in a sport skill or fitness lessons to enhance your own well-being, join with us in our efforts to reverse the trend of our overweight society, and support our Sport Management majors who are working in the industry! I hope you enjoy Movement. Best wishes, Beverly D. Ulrich Professor and Dean Spring 2003 1 KINESIOLOGY ALUMNUS PIONEERS WELLNESS PROGRAM Obesity among children has doubled in the last decade, according to the Center for Disease Control. Diabetes and high blood pressure are also on the rise. Dr. Vincent Bufalino, in a study of several children in the Chicago area, found that 40% of them had high cholesterol readings, which was attributed to frequent fast food meals and lack of exercise. (Detroit Public Television, The News Hour with Jim Lehrer, January 1, 2003). UM Photo Services, Martin Vloet James Walton, director of physical education and principal of Lake Forest Schools ames Walton (BS ’70, MS ’81), donations and grants. “Our school has they are doing the same thing as their Jdirector of the Physical Education a foundation, and without that support, parents are doing at the clubs.” Program and principal of the Sheridan the fitness center would still just be in The students check their pedome- School in Lake Forest Illinois School the planning stages,” said Walton. ters periodically during each activity District 67, spearheaded a movement to Walton and his teachers arranged for period to make a before and after com- educate the teachers and students in teacher training through a partnership parison. Once the children understood ways to combat such bleak health statis- with the Lake Forest Health and Fitness the concept that 200 steps are better tics as mentioned above. He refers to Center, which is run by Lake Forest than 150 steps, they began to take small- the new program, not as physical educa- Hospital. The center staff also reviewed er steps to produce a higher pedometer tion, but as a wellness program that the planned physical activities to make reading. “At first we thought that they emphasizes fitness and health. “Starting sure they were appropriate for each age were trying to get around the system, early with the children gets them in the level, and they made suggestions about but then we realized that the smaller mindset to understand and enjoy exer- how to set up appropriate circuits for steps required more effort and that those cise, and makes a difference in their elementary students. children were actually working harder lifestyle,” said Walton. The equipment includes several than the others,” said Walton. Lake Forest students participate in Schwinn stationary bicycles, and twen- A computer program helps track health and fitness activities up to forty ty-five fitness stations with strength and measurable results, with an individual minutes a day, two to three times a endurance areas. Steppers equipped fitness growth record for each student. week. The K-4 students use individual with handles are placed at intervals The latest innovation for the program is fitness equipment and they are taught throughout the room so that target the use of Polar Personal Digital how to use pedometers as a way of heart rates can be maintained during a Assistants that allow the teachers to measuring their activity. session. An automatic timer and syn- immediately input data and later down- Middle school students have chronized music add to the active envi- load it into the students’ electronic access to a state-of-the-art workout ronment. “Our facility is a miniature records. The data evaluation revealed facility with over $50,000 worth of fitness center that is comparable to information about children who are not equipment. The fitness center was fund- many in the private domain,” said in the best physical shape. Those stu- ed through school budgets, foundation Walton. “The kids love it – they know dents were shown to exert a level of 2 Spring 2003 ALUMNI PROFILE effort for a lower numerical reading that wellness program, and he credits his and the school board and the parents equaled the level of effort by those stu- Michigan education for giving him an have always been very positive about the dents who were in better physical shape excellent foundation. “There was so direction of our program.” with higher numerical readings. This much science and research involved at Walton has had a challenging and important discovery was made because Michigan, it was great, and it helped me satisfying career at Lake Forest, but he of the technology, and because the meas- think of developing a new curriculum as never expected to work in the elemen- urements track individual progress an opportunity,” he said. tary school environment. He took extra rather than comparing each child with As part of his research, Walton courses and became certified at the K-12 other students. met with Phil Lawler, department head level when he was at Michigan, but con- of the Naperville, Illinois centrated in high school education. He Physical Education Program. did his student teaching at Huron High Lawler is a consultant for the School in Ann Arbor.