TITLE IX LAWS AND INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS

Research paper by Michael Lancaster

The topic of Title IX laws and how it affects intercollegiate athletics really interests me as I have a strong background in sports as an athlete and an administrator. I have had the opportunity to compete at the NCAA Division I level at Nicholls State University and Highpoint University for Track and Cross Country.

Unfortunately, I had my scholarship as well as my fellow male teammates’ scholarships cut at Nicholls State University so that the athletic program would be in NCAA Title IX compliance. There is no longer a men’s track and cross country program at Nicholls State University due to Title IX laws. As a result I transferred to California State University, Monterey Bay where I was offered an athletic scholarship. Without the athletic scholarship offered here as California State University, Monterey Bay I would not be able to afford to attend University. Many of my teammates from Nicholls State did not find new schools to attend and many had to drop out of University all together because they could not pay the required fees to attend University.

With this experience, I have had a strong interest to find the reasoning as to why men’s athletic programs at University were cut when this Amendment is made to provide equal opportunity. Many experts argue that although the law has bridged the gender gap there is still much work to be done, and that women are still not given an equal opportunity. Others believe that Title IX has certainly done its intended job, so well that it has now caused reverse sexism. This research paper will thoroughly examine both sides and find if Title IX is truly providing equal opportunity or if Title IX is outdated and forcing many male collegiate athletes to suffer their chances to compete and attend University.

HISTORY OF TITLE IX

Before Title IX had evolved, “[…] fewer than 300,000 girls participated in high school sports, about one in 27” (Garber 2005). Women in academics were strongly discriminated against. For example, the wife of former U.S Senator Birch Bayh, a sponsor of Title IX in 1972, was denied admission to the University of Virginia before 1970 due to the Virginia State Law that prohibited women from entering the University. Along with women being denied entrance into University, women were also unable to have access to financial aid, graduate programs such as computer engineering, medicine, and law. Women were forced to have higher test scores than their male classmates in order to make it into Universities and women received half the amount of scholarships than men that were valued less than 50 percent than the scholarships that were offered to males (Johnson 2002).

Since 1972, the year of Title IX, United States had experienced a major transformation when the law had become a part of the education amendment: Title 20 U.S.C, Sections 1681-1688. As Title IX ensures legal protection against sexual harassment and gender discrimination in the workplace and school grounds, this law also played a major role in high school and intercollegiate sports (Valentin 1997).

This paper is in ten parts: This is part one:

Part one: Unfortunately, I had my scholarship as well as my fellow male teammates’ scholarships cut at Nicholls State University so that the athletic program would be in NCAA Title IX compliance.

Part two: Nearly every educational institution is a recipient of Federal funds and, thus, is required to comply with Title IX” (NCAA 2005).

Part three: According to NCAA.org, Athletics programs are considered educational programs and activities.

Part four: Since Title IX’s inception in 1972 women and girls have made great strides in obtaining gender equity not only in the classroom but also on the playing field.

Part five: There is nothing in Title IX or its policies that require schools to cut or reduce men’s opportunities in order to be Title IX compliant.

Part six: The results show clearly that women are still not receiving an equal opportunity as their male counterparts.

Part seven: Women’s rowing provided Athletic directors an opportunity to help to try and save male programs.

Part eight: Many other universities face a dilemma when economic reality and Title IX collide head-on.

Part nine: There has been much protest over the elimination of men’s teams over the years that has seen many cases in the courts.

Part ten: The law should be changed to limit football programs overbearing influence within Title IX restrictions.

Title IX: Teaching girls more than just a game.