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NEWS & LETTERS, May-June 2005Gutting of Title IXThis year saw one of the greatest achievements for women's sports. Pat Summit--who became head coach of the University of Tennessee women's basketball team three years after Title IX was passed, and nurtured her fledgling team for years by tacking recruitment posters on trees, playing before a handful of people, and washing the team uniforms herself--became the winningest coach among women AND men in Division I college history with her 880th victory. In the same month, Bush's Department of Education issued a so-called "policy clarification" explaining how universities can comply with Title IX, the civil rights law passed in 1972 barring sex discrimination (including in sports) at institutions receiving federal funds. THE CHRONICLE OF HIGHER EDUCATION maintained this "clarification" "redraws Title IX policy," and the National Women's Law Center called it "a substantial rollback of the department's policy" and "a further attempt to weaken Title IX." Two years ago, Bush set up a commission to "study" Title IX with the aim of gutting it to appease his right-wing misogynist base. But overwhelming opposition and vocal support for Title IX by women's organizations and women's athletic departments, forced him to back off. Now, instead of universities and others having to show that they are treating women equally, the new policy puts the burden of proof on students and government investigators to show that a college is not in compliance with Title IX. Universities can show compliance simply by sending out an email survey to existing women students--not even including potential students at other colleges or graduating high school seniors. The Law Center called the survey "inherently flawed because it presumes a survey alone can measure student interest." Of course male students never have to prove interest in sports--much less by responding to an email. Non-response to the email will be interpreted as lack of interest! Edward Leland, athletics director at Stanford University, said it's like having a budget referendum and counting non-voters as a "no" vote. Myles Brand, president of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, was "disappointed" the Education Department put forth these "clarifications" "without public discussion." He said this new interpretation of Title IX compliance "will likely stymie the growth of women's athletics and could reverse the progress made over the last three decades." --M.J. |
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