A Message to West Virginia
Middle School Students

Dr. Carolyn Peluso Atkins
Professor
Department of Speech Pathology & Audiology
College of Human Resources & Education
West Virginia University

In January of 1990, I taught my first public speaking class to twelve West Virginia University student-athletes. Although the title of the course is ?Speaking to Communities,? it is more popularly known as ?Jock Talk.? Each semester, they present several different types of speeches in class. They also meet with me individually to write speeches typically based on their life experiences. In small groups, we visit some of the middle schools and high schools in Monongalia County where they present their speeches.

The overwhelming majority have been proud of their messages, especially those that positively influence others. Allowing audiences to gain insight into their personal lives, they have addressed important topics such as avoiding peer pressure, preparing for the future, learning from mistakes, and doing the right thing. Those who feared speaking in public looked upon the experience as yet another challenge to overcome.

While I often am contacted by schools throughout the state of West Virginia to ?bring the athletes to speak,? I am unable to do so. I continually explain that I am with my students only for two 75-minute classes a week. Therefore, we visit only schools that are close to the West Virginia University campus.

Near the end of the semester, each student-athlete presents his or her speech to an audience which consists of members of the university administration, athletic staff, coaches, professors, advisors, peers, and community members. The public also is invited to attend. The final presentation event is called ?Student-Athletes Speak Out? or ?SASO? (pronounced ?say so?).

For the first time in the fall of 2007, six WVU student-athletes will ?visit? via DVDs all of the public middle schools in West Virginia so that students throughout the state will have the opportunity to listen to these important messages. This Web site, http://saso.wvu.edu, is available for those who want more information on the speaker, the topic, or related links.

I am indebted to those who believed in and sponsored this teaching and service project related to character education. They include Bowles Rice McDavid Graff & Love, PLLC, and West Virginia University’s College of Human Resources & Education, Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, and Office of the Provost. I also appreciate the Josephson Institute of Ethics and the fine work that they have shared with regard to character education, specifically the Six Pillars of Character upon which part of this project is based.

I am pleased to introduce the following student-athletes who are advocates for character education and believe in ?doing the right thing? in hopes that they will be positive influences on the middle school students of West Virginia.

• Mike Dent
• Alex Ruoff
• Joe Alexander
• Tito Gonzales
• Ashley Banks
• Halimah Bashir