Alex Rubin's April 7, 2008 column (Inequality driven from equality) misses the boat about women's athletics in the NCAA. He believes that the goal of college athletics is to make money because it is a business. College athletics clearly is a business; however, it is not in business to make money. The vast majority of NCAA programs are a losing proposition financially. If college athletics were in fact set up to make money most colleges would drop athletics altogether. It is the rare university that actually runs their athletic program at a profit.
As for making any changes to Title IX that would be the first step to sending women's athletics back to the pre-Title IX days. The reason that Title IX is despised in some places is that it is looked upon as an impediment to athletics for men. That is wrong and an improper way to look at what Title IX has done. Title IX is the sole reason why Tennessee and Stanford played on ESPN this past Monday night in a packed arena. It has given girls women an opportunity that never would have happened but for the federal mandate.
In this day and age when the obesity of American youth is becoming a growing problem, taking any step that would lead to girls getting off the fields play and back to playing with dolls is wrong. Title IX has had a trickle-down effect as that more girls are participating in athletics in all different sports. Without Tile IX there are no Nicky Anosikes or Mia Hamms for girls to look up to, to inspire them.
Any tweaking to the requirements of Title IX that would allow schools to cut back women's athletics is step back for women and girls. It was not that long ago when before Title IX that the NCAA did not conduct any championships for women's teams. If any inequalities were to be allowed it would start a slippery slope that would result in the demise of women's athletics on many college campuses across the country.
Just last year UB was honored for its commitment to women's athletics and was honored by the Women's Sports Foundation. It is a shame that someone from UB would one year later be arguing for changes to weaken Title IX.
As for missing the boat, crew is one of the most important sports for complying with Title IX. Because of the large number of participants in crew it helps to offset the large numbers of athletes in football and wrestling for which there are no similar sports for women.
Ronald Balter
bulls@pipeline.com
UB 1980
Brooklyn, New York
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
