More than a game: ND Ethics Week examines sports and the common good

The 2017 edition of Notre Dame Ethics Week will put a new spin on a popular topic — sports.

The annual conference, held Feb. 14-17 at the University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business, will explore “Sports and the Common Good” through a series of panel discussions, speakers and even the showing of a classic baseball movie.

“Sports is big business,” said Brian Levey, Mendoza teaching professor and one of the Ethics Week organizers. “Estimates peg the global sports market at $1.5 trillion.  And by examining sports from a deeper perspective, we can explore business ethics issues in a relatable manner.  Winning, losing, fair play, cheating, equality, discrimination, altruism, egoism -- sports has it all.” 

Ethics Week events, which are free and open to the public, take place in the Giovanini Commons located in the lower level of Mendoza College of Business unless otherwise noted in the following schedule:

• Tuesday, Feb. 14, 4:30-5:30 p.m.: Panel discussion: “Life Lessons from Sports: Performance & Purpose,” featuring Christopher Adkins, executive director of the Notre Dame Deloitte Center for Ethical Leadership; and Amber Lattner, founder, Lattner Performance Group 

• Wednesday, Feb. 15, 12:20-1:30 p.m.: Panel discussion: “Building Global Bridges through Sports,” featuring Guiorgie “Gia” Kvaratskhelia, head fencing coach, University of Notre Dame; Notre Dame student-athletes Jonah Shainberg (fencing) and Sandra Yu (soccer); and Mario Berkeley, Mendoza teaching assistant (moderator)

• Thursday, Feb. 16, 5:30-7:45 p.m.: Movie night: “The Natural,” showing in Mendoza’s Jordan Auditorium, immediately followed by “Panel & Pizza”

• Thursday, Feb. 16, 7:45-8:30 p.m.: “Panel & Pizza”: Discussion of the novel, “The Natural: Messiah in Uniform,” by Bernard Malamud, featuring Michael Cozzillio, Widener University Commonwealth Law School; and Ed Edmonds, Notre Dame Law School. Note: Free pizza will be provided to the first 75 movie attendees who also attend the panel discussion

• Friday, Feb. 17, 12-1 p.m.: "Prolanthrophy: The Business of Helping Athletes Give Back,” featuring J. Jonathan Hayes, principal director, Pro Sports, Pegasus Partners Ltd.

Notre Dame Ethics Week takes place annually in February, and brings in experts from a diverse array of industries to explore current ethics issues. The event is sponsored by the Mendoza College of Business and the Notre Dame Deloitte Center for Ethical Leadership.

Now in its 20th year, Notre Dame Ethics Week was established to encourage the discussion of ethical matters in undergraduate and graduate business classes at Notre Dame and to secure a foundation for future discussions inside and outside the classroom.  The event continues the legacy of John Houck, a Notre Dame management professor who authored numerous works on business ethics, including “Is the Good Corporation Dead?” Houck died in 1996.

For more information about Notre Dame Ethics Week, contact Brian Levey at (574) 631-3560 or blevey@nd.edu.