College Sports - Women in Sports and Title IX Essay -- Argumentative P

Women in Sports and Title IX Since the 1972 conception of Title IX of the Education Amendments, the number of women participating in intercollegiate athletics has increased five-fold, from fewer than 30,000, to more 150,000 in 2001. However, more than 400 men’s athletics teams have been dismantled since Title IX, the law forbidding sex discrimination at institutions receiving federal funds, became law. Some would say this is due, in part, to Title IX enforcement standards like proportionality. Proportionality requires that an institution’s athletic population must be of an equal ratio to its general student body. Among some of the 400-plus teams dismantled by Title IX are several former Colorado State University teams including wrestling, baseball, gymnastics, men’s swimming and diving, and men’s tennis. CSU student athletes no longer sport the opportunity of participating in these activities at the NCAA Division I level, and the days of the student body rooting for their ram team s are gone, possibly forever. Now the search is on to find a solution to the problems associated with Title IX if, indeed, a solution is ultimately necessary. The debate over Title IX is a complex one, with many sides relentlessly attacking each other’s approaches regarding the law. The Title IX advocates, largely comprised of women’s organizations such as the National Women’s Law Center (NWLC), take the approach that the law is the major reason women have achieved somewhat equal opportunities in athletics. The NWLC contends that abolishing Title IX would undo years of progress so far achieved. In sharp contrast with the Title IX advocates are the Title IX opponents, who are largely comprised of the National Wrestling Coaches Association (... ...as images of the gloried days past. Works Cited Coniff, Ruth. â€Å"Title IX: Political Football.† Nation Mar. 2003: 19. Davis, Michelle R. â€Å"Title IX Panel Contemplates Easing Proportionality Test.† Education Week 11 Dec. 2002: 22. Epstein, Richard A. â€Å"Just scrap Title IX.† National Law Journal 24 (2002): 35 Gable, Dan. â€Å"What to do with Title IX.† Sporting News Feb. 2003: 7. Robinson, J., Peg Bradley-Doppes, Charles M. Neinas, John R. Thelin, Christine A. Plonsky, and Michael Messner. â€Å"Gender Equity in College Sports: 6 Views.† Chronicle of Higher Education 6 Dec 2002: B7+. Salant, Jonathan D. â€Å"NCAA president opposes changes to Title IX anti-discrimination law.† Washington Dateline 4 Mar. 2003: Sports 1. Will, George F. â€Å"A Train Wreck Called Title IX.† Newsweek 27 May 2002: 82. â€Å"Women and sports.† Christian Science Monitor Apr. 1995: 20.