The YWCA held an open forum Monday night to discuss recent developments and challenges in the fight to preserve Title IX. Less than a dozen students, YWCA representatives and community members attended the event, which ran until 8:45 p.m. and focused on information presented by a panel of three individuals, including Duck women’s basketball coach Bev Smith.
“We’ve been very lucky here at the University,” Smith said. “And now they’re trying to cut (Title IX) when it’s just getting somewhere.”
“They” — the 15-member commission of government-appointed reviewers — were established in 2002 in order to perform a series of evaluations of Title IX in response to eight questions posed by the Department of Education. Once the commission has finished answering these questions, the department will assess whether to minimize Title IX requirements or leave them as they are. Panel member Becky Sisley said that time is soon to come.
“We are at a threshold of knowing what will change and what will stay the same” she said.
YWCA financial coordinator Krista Trask opened the meeting with a short introduction, including the YWCA’s decision to focus their annual women’s sports event on more college level athletics. Smith then introduced herself and gave several examples and personal accounts — as a University alumna — over the course of the evening. Sisley — the woman who implemented the title at the University in 1975 — introduced herself secondly and headed the majority of the forum discussion. She also expressed an interest in attendees’ reasons for coming to the forum.
“Education leads to support,”
she said.
Law student Tracee Passeggi, the third panel member introduced, defined the three prongs of Title IX compliance: financial aid and scholarship assistance, equality in services available to athletes — a so-called “laundry-list” of benefits — and proportionality in equal opportunity and historical accommodation. Passeggi also assisted in answering clarification questions regarding the legal history of Title IX over the past two decades.
Student senator Mike Linman — the only male in attendance — vocalized his concerns at several points and asked for clarification on certain aspects of Title IX, including how universities count athletes and scholarships. Sisley responded in stating that all universities use different methods to gauge equity. The University, for instance, offers full scholarships to all of its athletes, allowing it to easily comply with the first prong of Title IX.
“The UO figured it out,” Passeggi said.
The last 30 minutes focused on concerns with present nationwide support of Title IX — or lack thereof. While a YWCA representative said she gave the majority of flyers regarding the forum to male students, the low attendance of both sexes gave participants a somewhat depressing impression. Sisley and Smith discussed the importance of supporting women’s athletics as a means of inspiring young girls to get involved early.
Handouts included information regarding the availability of a University course based on women’s rights in college athletics and a more recent history of Title IX gains and developments.
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