I am writing to express my dismay that Reggie White has been invited by the organizers of the Iowa Games to be the keynote speaker at the opening session.

Mr. White, a member of the Green Bay Packers professional football team, has exploited his celebrity status to make derogatory comments about a wide range of groups, including American Indians, Asian Americans, Hispanics, women sports reporters, people for reproductive freedom, non-Christian communities of faith and lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender people.

His intolerant statements have been well documented by the media. Indeed, he was censured by the National Football League for appearing in national anti-gay newspaper advertisements in his Green Bay Packer uniform.

His speech before the Wisconsin legislature, as well as his comments in numerous public appearances, documents his propensity to use public forums for propagating hatred and intolerance.

That the Iowa Games organizers would consider him an appropriate speaker and role model for the youth of this state is inexcusable.

In addition, Iowa State, a sponsor of the Iowa Games, has chosen to condone by silence the appearance of Reggie White as the keynote speaker for the Iowa Games.

As the site of the games and as one of the sponsors, the university is in a position to indicate in public statements that White is an appalling choice to keynote this event.

This is an event that will expose youth from across the state to his insensitive and uninformed positions.

Not only does the university’s silence send an implicit message of support of White’s bigoted views, but so does the appearance at the same event of Tom Hill, the vice president of student affairs at ISU.

At a time when ISU is working to increase diversity and demonstrate that it welcomes all, the university’s failure to speak out against the appearance of Reggie White can only suggest that this effort is ingenuous.

Regardless of the message that Reggie White gives on Friday evening, his presence creates a hostile environment for all the groups that have been the targets of his past pronouncements.

His appearance at the Iowa Games is an affront to all people who value the celebration of diversity as an important value to impart to all young athletes.

While the Iowa Games staff has indicated that Reggie White was invited to speak based on his success as a football player, I would argue that the values a person espouses are even more important criteria.

Certainly, there are other sports figures who have demonstrated that they are worthy of providing inspiration to ALL the youth participating in the Iowa Games.

Nancy J. Evans

associate professor

educational leadership and policy studies