International Women's Day is "a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women." Here at Saint Francis, the Athletics' department decided this day, which started in 1975 by the United Nations, was the perfect time to celebrate the 50 year anniversary of Title IX.
All students, educators and coaches received an invitation to attend International Women's Day: In Celebration of 50 Years of Title IX in the PAC theater. The program began by taking some time to offer context for both March 8 and the federal legislation known as Title IX. The website of tennis legend and social activist—Billie Jean King'—captures that information well.
You have probably heard the proclamation "No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance."
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was written to end discrimination based on sex, religion, race, color, and national origin in the area of employment. However, it did not prohibit gender discrimination in public education and federally assisted programs, including high school and collegiate athletic programs.
In 1971, before Title IX passed, only 1% of college athletic budgets went to women's sports programs. At the high school level, male athletes outnumbered female athletes 12.5 to 1. Title IX was signed into law on June 23, 1972 by President Richard Nixon.
50 Years later we tell a much different story! That is what we celebrate today. The history and those stories—the examples, and the lessons we have learned.
Director of of Holy Cross Mission and Ministry, Sister Jodi Min who played basketball at UC Davis offered our prayer.
Former CCS Commissioner, Nancy Lazenby Blaser, gave the keynote presentation, a talk guided by the essential question: If women were already playing sports, why was it necessary to pass Title IX of the Education Amendments in 1972? Through historical examples of women's limited but dynamic participation in sport, the "37 words that changed everything," a profile of an invaluable stakeholder—Patsy Mink and the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics, story and personal testimony, Ms. Blaser proved to be the perfect teacher of this timely topic.
Jessica Oakland '22, a four-year varsity athlete offered a personal testimonial about the impact of sports on her life. Andrew Blanco '22 a member of the boys' water polo team shared his impressions of the girls' game (same season, same pool!). His observations about their physicality, grit and mental toughness was honest and fun to hear. A current teacher and coach, Courtney Ogren '16 who played both soccer and football at Saint Francis spoke about how her coaches shaped her and what it means to do what they did.
The presentation closed with a slide show of teachers and coaches in youth, high school, collegiate or current day sports. To see so many examples of my colleagues in such a wide variety of sports was interesting, important and inspiring.
Sports has always allowed us to dream, and dream we must about the next 50 years. The sharing of personal testimonies from current athletes, coaches and school leaders provided a deeper understanding of the way sport has impacted our community and what we might hope for in the future.
