Few baseball fans will forget March 17, 2005. St. Louis Cardinals player and home run legend Mark McGwire refused to testify before a Congressional committee about allegations of steroid use during his glory years. His actions scandalized America's game.

The University's student chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists will host a fundraiser with guest Mark Fainaru-Wada, a San Francisco Chronicle reporter and author of "Game of Shadows: Barry Bonds, BALCO, and the Steroids Scandal that Rocked Professional Sports," at 7 p.m., April 24, at the Jot Travis Student Union Alumni Room.

The Washington Post has called Fainaru-Wada's book "the most important story in sports in the last decade."

"Mark has an important story to tell about athletes' use of steroids, its impact on sportsmanship," said Paul Mitchell, Reynolds School of Journalism recruitment and retention coordinator. "Mark has faced tremendous challenges after the publication of his book. His journalistic integrity was tested when he was summoned to testify about his sources, his family and friends faced ridicule and threats."

The public had mixed reactions to Fainaru-Wada's expose of steroid use among Bonds and other superstar athletes.

"His experience as a journalist and author hasn't been easy. He's been tested, and he's demonstrated the kind of courage that is asked of few of us in our lives," Mitchell said.

Mitchell, a faculty sponsor of the student chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), and Fainaru-Wada were colleagues at the sports daily newspaper, The National, from 1990-1991.

SPJ teaches ethics and standards in journalism while creating a network of professional contacts at meetings, job fairs and conferences locally and nationally.

The fundraiser will begin with a silent auction of silent auction of Wolf Pack and other professional sports memorabilia. Proceeds will benefit SPJ service projects including an Internship Fair and the Nevada High School Journalism Day.

General admission tickets may be purchased for $25. Student tickets are $10. Tickets may be purchased at the door or in advance by calling (775) 784-6531.