Thursday, Feb. 6, 2003 | 8:42 a.m.
THE FEDERAL COMMISSION evaluating the status and use of Title IX has completed its hearings. Its recommendations will be in the hands of Education Secretary Rod Paige at the end of February. The commission held several heated hearings and discussions before reaching any conclusions. Under the name of Commission on Athletic Opportunity, it soon became a threat in the minds of Title IX supporters.
Title IX, which was enacted 30 years ago, provides equality for women in much more than athletics. It is an anti-discrimination law that insists college admissions be fair for both men and women. USA Today, in an editorial, reminded us that prior to Title IX that "Women were routinely discriminated against in college admissions -- and barred altogether from some of the best schools. Medical and law schools imposed quotas to keep women out of classes. Outside of departments such as home economics and nursing, few professors were female." The editorial goes on to tell readers that "women now outnumber men in higher education. Even enrollment in medicine and law is nearly 50-50. Female professors are no longer an oddity."
The war over Title IX has been conducted on how the law has been interpreted in the field of athletic competition. I have come to believe that the law is solid but large numbers of college athletic departments have misused it. As expressed in an earlier column, all the law demands is that women be treated equally with men. It didn't take long for many universities to use the cancellation of male sports, rather than add sports for women, to meet legal demands. Many varsity sports fans, including me, saw the law as being unfair to male athletes who no longer could compete at their schools.
What the fans weren't told was that the schools were playing their own deceptive games. Schools of higher education followed the tactics often used by high schools and middle schools when facing a budget crunch. They immediately announce they are going to cancel certain sports, knowing the parents would object. Seldom do the school boards or administrators suggest cutting back on other expenses, which may save more money but cause less emotional response.
The actions of many college athletic directors resulted in male athletes feeling reverse discrimination. The arguments put forth by writer John Irving expressed their feelings in a New York Times op-ed piece. He wrote:
"Why are wrestlers so upset about this? The number of collegiate wrestling programs lost to Title IX compliance is staggering; this is especially alarming because, since 1993, wrestling has been a rapidly growing sport at the high-school level. Data compiled by Gary Abbott, director of special projects at USA Wrestling, indicates that in 2001, there were 244,984 athletes wrestling in high school; only 5,966 got to wrestle in the National Collegiate Athletic Association. Not to put too fine a point on it: there is only one N.C.A.A. spot for every 41 high-school wrestlers. The numbers have been going downhill for awhile. In 1982, there were 363 N.C.A.A. wrestling teams with 7,914 wrestlers competing; in 2001, there were only 229 teams with fewer than 6,000 wrestlers. Yet, in that same period, the number of N.C.A.A. institutions has increased from 787 to 1,04 9. No wonder wrestlers are unhappy."
Wisely, Paige's commission didn't make recommendations to destroy Title IX. Actually a couple of recommendations may be helpful, including a demand that the Office of Civil Rights tell colleges that dropping men's sports is a disfavored practice. Also leaving nonrecruited walk-ons out of the athletic count makes good sense. This was a major issue for some wrestling coaches struggling to keep their programs alive.
Supporters of Title IX have to watch out for the way Paige could use his powers in an attempt to gut the law. By now, he and President George W. Bush should realize that the heart and soul of Title IX has the support of Americans familiar with the law. A recent USA Today/CNN/Gallup poll showed seven of 10 of the people interviewed believe that Title IX should be strengthened or left alone.
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