CentreTerm course explores how politics, baseball mix

RELEASED: Jan. 16, 2003

DANVILLE, KY—CentreTerm has given Bill Garriott the unique opportunity to combine two of his interests.

Garriott, professor of government at Centre, is leading a three-week course entitled "Baseball and American Politics."

The course uses baseball as the lens through which to see the transitions and transgressions of the American political system.

"Baseball is a feature of American society that reflects what's going on in the rest of society," Garriott says. "It's a way to look at America."

He says the class not only applies to the American politics of yesteryear, but also to current issues.

For example, congressional hearings have been held recently to determine if baseball, as all other professional sports, should be subject to anti-trust legislation. This situation in baseball is reflective of the questions brought about by the Enron scandal on the subjects of business regulation and government involvement in business, he says.

Closer to home, the destruction of the Cincinnati Reds' Cinergy Field for a new "Great American Ball Park" brings up the topics of urban development and taxpayer responsibility, Garriott says.

Baseball, a documentary series by Ken Burns, is used in the class to provide historical and social context. Students will also gain insight from the films Bingo Long, about the Negro National League, and Eight Men Out, about the infamous 1919 Black Sox scandal.

Teaching students about the policy-making process and how American politics and policy-making have changed, as well as introducing students to the history of baseball and its role are Garriott's goals for the course. At the end of the term, each student will submit a research project.

Garriott knows a little about baseball. A 1966 graduate of Centre, he played four years as an outfielder for the Colonels.

"I really enjoy the game at all levels," Garriott said. "I will also admit to being a Chicago White Sox fan."

CentreTerm ends Jan. 27, and the spring term begins Feb. 5.

To learn more about CentreTerm, call Centre's Admission Office at (800) 423-6236 or e-mail the office at admission@centre.edu. Or you can visit http://www.centre.edu/web/admission/publications/centreterm.html.

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