By Sasha Futran

Martha Saavedra didn't plan researching or teaching anything in the world of sports. She was working at Saint Mary's College when a colleague challenged her over lunch to teach a course in the politics of sports as she passionately discussed a civil rights case involving Title IX. She was using the case as part of a public administration class she was teaching at the time.

Saavedra was not a newcomer to Title IX or sports--her parents organized sports activities and teams in their neighborhood and she played soccer as a child. In college, Saavedra was able to play in a club rather than a team. "We couldn't touch the main soccer field but had to use a field on a sloop with crooked lines," she recalls. "So some of us organized, used Title IX, and we were able to achieve varsity status."

Saavedra did go on to create a course and we have the benefit of that now at OLLI and the chance to explore and understand the ways in which sports can be a tool for good and bad as a political and economic force locally, regionally, or internationally.

The passion is still there as Saavedra rattles off examples. "Look at what just happened in Egypt when there was a clash where supporters of the revolution confronted the old guard through soccer," she said, referring to the recent fight that broke out after a soccer match in which many died or were injured as the military police blocked exits. Although the battle started between sports fans, according to the The Nation, the government's response"acted as a defibrillator, bringing a revolutionary impatience back to life."

"One can also look at the International Olympics Committee and analyze how they can come in and suspend laws, establish new laws, and manipulate politics," continues Saavedra, "or at China and Taiwan and how their organizations exert influence and determine who gets the right to represent the country."

Saavedra is the associate director of the Center for African Studies at UC Berkeley and has gotten involved with helping a Kenyan group called Moving the Goal Posts. It's an organization for girls and women with the motto: We can do it. In a society where females keep their heads down and don't make direct eye contact, these girls organize soccer leagues, arrange to use fields, do the accounting and scheduling of practice and games.

"This puts them in a very different role," says Saavedra who works with the group. "They have to go and talk with tough headmasters and make arrangements. They learn a variety of skills. The accolades really build their self-esteem and they are also seen as more worthwhile."

Some claim that sports helps developing countries or that it can curb drug use and delinquency, that it is a tool for empowerment, peace and well-being. Others cite rampant commercialism, violence, homophobia, doping, and corruption. "The Global Politics of Sports" (offered this term) will explore it all and offers an interesting review and insight into global politics and major political events through the prism of sports.

Martha Saavedra's areas of research and expertise include agrarian politics, gender, sport and development in Africa and ethnic conflict in Sudan. Along with the Center for African Studies, she is currently also teaching at UC Berkeley's Journalism school training students for reporting on Africa. She's the mother of two and coaches her son's soccer team.

Room 41B University Hall, 2199 Addison St
FREE, reservation required due to limited space
For OLLI @Berkeley members only 

More information | RSVP online 

BROWN BAG LUNCHING

During the Spring 2012 term, Brown Bag Lunching will be held on Tuesdays in the Freight and Salvage Lobby from 12:00-1:00 pm. There will also be lunches on Wednesdays, May 2 and May 9. OLLI faculty will join the lunches on select dates (see below). 

LUNCHING WITH FACULTY

OLLI faculty will join the members at the brown bag lunches on the following days: Tuesdays, April 17, 24, and May 1, and Wednesdays, May 2 and May 9. Note: the faculty have changed for May 2 and 9. See the events calendar for details. 

FOURTH AGE SALONS 

Fourth Age Salons are an opportunity for OLLI to better understand the learning needs and interests of members over 80. Upcoming Fourth Age Salons are scheduled to take place on the following Mondays in Room 41C University Hall (2199 Addison St):

• April 23, 3:00-4:30 pm

Each salon will have a specific topic with a guest speaker. Please contact research assistant Sandra von Doetinchem for more information at sandra.doetinchem@berkeley.edu.

MONTHLY DISCUSSION GROUP: NEW YORKER MAGAZINE

An OLLI member is starting a monthly gathering for people who would like to discuss articles from The New Yorker, or occasionally from the New York Review of Books or on-line sources. (This will be like a book group, but you don't have to read a whole book!) Gatherings will take place on the last Thursday of the month from 10:45 am to 12:30 pm. The tentative location is Nelly's Java in Montclair Village, Oakland. If the group turns out to be large, the location will be moved to a bigger spot in Montclair or Rockridge. If you're interested, please contact Susan S at suzeoak@gmail.com.

HAPPY HOUR

Twenty-six OLLI members came to the first ever OLLI Happy Hour, which was a totally enjoyable event, and an easy, informal way to get to know one another. Drinks were ordered at the no-host bar and the happy hour prices were great--the $6 Margarita was terrific! We gathered around a large, central table, which lent itself to easy conversation as well as moving from group to group. A waitperson checked in with us so we could order food to share or refresh our drinks. The atmosphere was relaxed and friendly.

Because this was such fun, we plan to do this again in April. RSVP to Lucille Poskanzer, LBPoskanzer@LBL.gov, or just come.

NEXT OLLI Happy Hour: Wednesday, April 11, 4:00-6:00 pm

Sportivo, 2132 Center St, between Shattuck Ave and Oxford St 

510.705.1801

VOLUNTEERING

OLLI is recruiting new volunteers for next year's Open Houses. If you are interested, please contact Nikki Maziasz at olli.volunteer@gmail.com with "Open House" in the subject line. Note: The volunteer email address has been corrected from previous versions.

ZACK ROGOW READING FROM NEW BOOK ~ APRIL 15 and 29 

Zack Rogow will be reading from his new book of poems, My Mother and the Ceiling Dancers, on two upcoming Sundays: Sunday, April 15, from 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm, at Madrone Art Bar, 500 Divisidero (at Fell St), San Francisco, and Sunday, April 29, from 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm at Mythos Fine Art & Artifacts, 1747 Solano Ave (at Ensenada Ave), Berkeley.   

My Mother and the Ceiling Dancers, Zack Rogow's seventh collection of poetry, published by Kattywompus Press, is now available at an early-bird discount, directly from the author. Email zrogow@berkeley.edu.  

KPFA PRESENTS AN EVENING WITH RICHARD LICHTMAN ~ MAY 11 

"Cry the Corrupted Country: Reflections on the Psychopathology of Capitalism"

Hosted by C.S. Soong

Friday, May 11, 7:30 pm

The Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar Street, Berkeley

More information and tickets 

Interested in volunteering your time to important and interesting causes? OLLI's "Volunteer" Interest Circle identifies local opportunities. Do you have new ideas for volunteering or want to know more about what the interest circle has found? If so, contact Barbara Malina at barbaramalina@comcast.net.

Health Care Guides for the World

Hesperian Health Guides provides information and educational tools to help people throughout the world to take control over their health. Their products, including the renowned Where There is No Doctor, have helped millions of people in 221 countries and territories to prevent and cure disease and challenge the social injustices that cause poor health.

Hesperian seeks volunteers to work for a variety of projects, ranging from researching topics for new books to packing up materials for shipment. They are conveniently located at 1919 Addison St, between Milvia and Martin Luther King. Volunteers should plan on 2-4 hours per week. For more information, visit http://hesperian.org/ or email jobsearch@hesperian.org.

Meals on Wheels

Meals on Wheels has called itself "the largest volunteer army in the nation." It first provided food to British servicemen during WWII. In the 1950s, it began to deliver meals to millions of people in need in the U.S. Meals on Wheels has provided home-delivered meals to housebound seniors in Berkeley, Albany, and Emeryville for more than 35 years.

Meals on Wheels is located at 1900 6th Street, at Hearst. They seek volunteers to pack meals from 9:15-10:30am or to deliver from 11am-1pm. For more information, call Dena at 981-5250 or visit http://www.mowaa.org/volunteer.