-
1 of 10
-
2 of 10
-
3 of 10
-
4 of 10
-
5 of 10
-
6 of 10
-
7 of 10
-
8 of 10
-
9 of 10
-
10 of 10
Title IX
Boise State seeks gender equality
Archive
Comments
Story
In an effort to remain in compliance with the Civil Rights Act of 1965, Boise State is in the “conversation stage” of an in-depth process to add another women’s sport to its athletic department roster. This cyclical process is not unusual and not restricted to colleges and universities.
Adding, disbanding or developing sports within federally-funded colleges, universities and high schools began when Congress passed the law known as “Title Nine” as an amendment to the Civil Rights Act in 1972.
Title Nine prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any education program or activity conducted in an institution receiving federal financial assistance. However, the strongest outcome of the amendment is in the field of athletics.
According to Indiana University’s Center on Congress Web site, the prevailing attitude toward gender equity in athletics prior to 1972 meant “a dollar committed to women’s sports activity meant a dollar less for those geared toward the male student.” Again asserted prior to 1972 was the thought that the eight percent of female students who participated in sports were the only women interested in sports. During passage of Title Nine, proponents revealed an argument stating the low participation was due to lack of opportunity and support, not lack of interest.
Title Nine is not meant to displace men’s sports. In fact, it pushes for gender equity, defined in proportionate opportunities. In other words, if a high school is representing 30 percent female enrollment, then 30 percent of the athletic opportunity should be
geared toward females.
However, many of the federally-funded institutions decided to cut men’s sports instead of increasing women’s sports. The cost increase and problems involved in recruiting women have caused some institutions to opt for the facilitated method of cutting back or disbanding men’s programs.
Perhaps these institutions overlooked one important provision. In 1979, and again in 1996, the U.S. Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights issued a “policy interpretation” of Title Nine. In it, a provision is made for a “transition plan.”
In essence, the plan would dictate any issues that make an institution unable to comply with Title Nine, in addition to transition plans for compliance. The OCR, responsible for enforcing Title Nine, does not require immediate compliance. The enforcement instead relies on the evidence that action is being taken to comply.
At Boise State, the male-to-female ratio is nearly 40 to 60. This means athletics must be near 40 percent to 60 percent, as well. Boise State has not yet met that mark; however, the university is well on its way.
According to the plan developed by the Gender Equity Subcommittee at Boise State, the university’s goal is to add a new women’s sport every five years. In addition, the plan provides for the development of existing
The last action taken was in 2004 when women’s skiing added a nordic component. In essence, Boise State is ahead of the game according to the university’s own plan.
As a part of the Intercollegiate Athletic Advisory Committee, the Gender Equity Subcommittee was formed when Marcia Wicklow-Howard set out to fulfill a need for a formal evaluation of Boise State’s compliance with Title Nine.
Boise State President Bob Kustra appointed Wicklow-Howard as the Faculty Athletics representative who serves as the chair to the Intercollegiate Athletic Advisory Committee. Wicklow-Howard noticed Boise State had not yet evaluated where they were with Title Nine, or where they wanted to be.
“They knew they had women’s sports and men’s sports, but they had not evaluated,” Wicklow-Howard said. “We formed the Gender Equity Subcommittee in order to complete this evaluation and also look at where we want to be.”
The subcommittee is comprised of a coach, two administrators, faculty, one or more student athletes and this year even includes a representative from the Bronco Athletic Association.
“Our plan says that we will show, and have shown, a continual history of giving gender equity within sports,” Wicklow-Howard said. “We want to increase opportunities for women. We are trying to do it without eliminating men’s sports or decreasing men’s opportunities. Besides that, we also want to try to add a women’s sport at the rate of about one every five years.”
The process to add a sport is quite involved. Variables such as interest and feasibility, as well as budget, must be included in the research.
To find interest, a survey is conducted among the women of Boise State’s student body, as well as local high schools, in an attempt to give Boise State’s future students a voice.
When particular sports are investigated, feasibility becomes a large variable. Factors include facilities, equipment, opponents, coaches, scholarships, travel, transportation, schedules and more. Feasibility studies will include a look at regional interest for opponents and facilities to see if compliance with NCAA regulations on facilities and the type of usage can be met.
“When you get into this, you can see that there are many variables,” Senior Women’s Administrator Lisa Parker said. “You have to look at sample budgets, what limitations are in existence, dates of competition, travel and transportation, equipment and even locker room and office space. These things are intertwined and relying upon each other.”
In the conversation stage, certain sports are being investigated, but none are being eliminated.
As a result of a preliminary survey in the spring of 2005, five sports have been identified as the top five that women have showed interest in, but not necessarily the desire to participate.
These five, according to Parker, are lacrosse, bowling, rowing, softball and swimming/diving.
Although these five sports are ideas to work from, each spokesperson from Boise State continues to reiterate that the process is still in its preliminary stages.
“We have not identified a sport at this time,” said Assistant Sports Information Director Max Corbet. “We have to look at this from a coach’s and legislative standpoint. We start the process by looking at what is feasible for Boise State, and then ultimately it has to go to the [Idaho] State Board [of Education].”
When asked if she had any impression of what sport may be next for Boise State, Wicklow-Howard responded, “We are still in the conversation stage. We are looking at a number of sports. I can say this: We should have a recommendation by [the] spring of 2006.”
Until then, students, faculty and alumni can be confident that Boise State continues to be working towards the standard of gender equity set forth by Title Nine.
e T’aime Davis
Sports writer
