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Monday, 6/30/97 Administrators, not law, should take the heat Budget cutting makes feminism feel like reverse discrimination

By Steve Kim Daily Bruin Contributor Title IX-- "No person in the U.S. shall, on the basis of sex ... be subjected to discrimination under any educational program or activity." Numerous collegiate athletic administrations have responded to Title IX in a not so idealistic way. Their response is simple. To balance the number of male and female athletic scholarships and maintain the department's budget, they cut off men's teams and use that money to either lower their budget deficits or replace them with women's teams. This has fueled thoughts of reverse discrimination and bitterness to this seemingly feminist law. On June 12, Cal State Northridge made the news by relieving four of its men's sports teams - baseball, volleyball, swimming and soccer - to comply with Title IX and decrease its $800,000 athletic department deficit. Cuts of such drastic measures were received with shock, since all four of them, especially the baseball and volleyball teams, enjoyed success. Northridge's baseball team played in the regionals four times in six years at Division I, while its volleyball team earned national attention by placing second to UCLA at the 1993 national championships. With such notable success, it is indeed a surprise that Northridge's officials decided to terminate these teams. Even UCLA had to adjust to the shift in budget several years ago, by cutting funds to its winning men's gymnastics and swimming teams. The recent Northridge incident brought an atmosphere of resentment toward Title IX. Many believe that Title IX is a feminist law that is meant to support females in the educational system at the expense of males. That is not the case. The reason that Cal State Northridge had to resort to cutting its four men's team was that it had not taken appropriate fund managing preparations in advance. The very act of mentioning Title IX by the administrators and media is a subtle way of blaming a fair and much needed law in our society. This is a country where women have historically gotten the short end of the stick, especially in sports. Title IX encourages equal opportunities for both men and women in the educational environment and should not be considered a burden. The title, signed by President Nixon in 1972, was meant to expand women's opportunities in the educational system over a period of time without having to downsize those of men. While Title IX's conception happened 25 years ago, it's amazing that it wasn't until 1988 that many colleges complied with it. In 1988 its jurisdiction was restored by several lawsuits which sent a serious message to balance opportunity in collegiate sports. Now numerous institutions, like Cal State Northridge, which hadn't fully complied when they should have, are suffering the consequences of failing to work creatively and efficiently with the given situation. Had they taken appropriate accommodations and plans they would have prevented much loss and frustration. Donna Lopiano, the head of Texas' women's athletics, utilizes innovative fund-raising ideas to increase the women's athletic budget. Two of the annual fund-raising events staged by the department, a spring walkathon and a tennis-golf gala which includes an auctioning of memorabilia of high- profile Texas athletes, raise about $65,000. These are prime examples of how schools can create their own innovative plans to work within the given budget. "Few people stop to think that the primary mission of the university is the pursuit of truth - learning. If we held to the theory that only the money-makers should exist, then our education system would be in sad shape," Lopiano said. "Liberal arts is as important as chemistry despite the fact it does not produce revenues. The same principle should be applicable in athletic programs." Lets face it: in the majority of cases, men's sports enjoy more popularity than their female counterparts. That's why men's teams command more media coverage, corporate sponsors and even numbers of teams than that of women. This applies both on the educational and professional level. Most women's sports on the professional level actually suffer more from lack of support because professional sports is driven by the commercial engine of capitalism. Just because men's sports in general reap more money and interest does not mean we should abandon or neglect women's teams. Especially in an educational setting like colleges, where their very foundations are based on creating opportunities to seek knowledge and broaden mental and physical horizons, it is crucial to guard the sacred ideals of civil equality and diversity. Of course it is great to have the popular and profitable programs, but let's not get too carried away with our pride to put aside other important programs in the educational system. That's why it is so important to have equality laws like Title IX without placing the blame on them. Blame the fans for lack of support, blame the administrators for poor financial management, but don't blame the law. To oppose Title IX is to oppose civil rights. It is sexist to say that women do not deserve to have the same opportunity to play, excel and reap the rewards of hard work and dedication as a larger percentage of men have been doing. One wouldn't dare say that people of one race should enjoy more privileges than people of another race in fear of being called a racist. However, when it comes to gender discrimination it's surprising how society treats sexism as a bias of a lesser degree. Don't do it. Equality is equality. Period. Previous Daily Bruin Story Women merit equality in sports, April 24, 1997