Don McPherson, College Football Hall of Fame inductee and former NFL and CFL player, will give a presentation on campus sexual assault at Northern Michigan University. His talk is titled “You Throw Like a Girl.” It will be held at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 13, in room 2904 of the West Science Building.

This presentation presents masculinity as learned social performance with narrow rules that are often toxic and violent. The role of sports culture is examined for its role in supporting and perpetuating the toxic and violent “mandate of masculinity.” The session is designed as an interactive, engaging and positive approach to the discussion of the myths and realities of sports culture and the issue of men’s violence against women.

McPherson is an activist, educator, feminist and entrepreneur. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of fame in 2008 and his Syracuse University number 9 jersey was retired in 2013. When he retired from pro football in 1994, he turned his attention to social issues. In 1995, McPherson emerged as a national leader and advocate for the prevention of sexual and domestic violence. He has conducted workshops and lectures for more than 250 college campuses, community organizations and national sports and violence prevention organizations. McPherson has also twice testified before the U.S. Congress and has worked closely with the U.S. Departments of Education and Defense on issues of sexual violence in education and the military, respectively.

This presentation is made possible by the NMU “Ending Sexual Violence: 50 Shades K(no)w” initiative. NMU received a $30,000 grant from the Michigan State Police campus sexual assault grant program, which encourages new approaches designed to change the overall culture of sexual assault among the college-age population