CLEVELAND — Noted sportswriter, author and USA Today columnist Christine Brennan called Title IX the most significant law passed in the last three decades for women and girls overall, and not just in terms of sports.

Speaking during the May 1-2 NCAA Gender Equity and Issues Forum, Brennan told a crowd of athletics administrators, coaches, student-athletes and legal experts that the nation has just begun to see the emergence of girls and women who have benefited from Title IX.

“As far as what Title IX means for empowering girls and women in this country, we haven’t even seen the benefits yet,” Brennan said. “The United States of America is a stronger nation by giving the other 51 percent of our population — girls and women — the opportunities we have been affording our sons for generations.”

Brennan spoke strongly against the current administration’s recent attacks on the law through the Commission on Opportunity in Athletics, and she affirmed her commitment not only to continue to support the legislation, but also to write about it.

“As the Bush administration inexplicably tries to weaken it, your goal, my goal — and all of us working together — it becomes even more important to make sure they don’t touch this,” she said.

Brennan’s address at the end of the annual forum complemented the calls to save the 1972 legislation from further changes that also echoed loudly throughout the two-day gathering.

As part of a Title IX panel discussion, NCAA Senior Vice President Judy Sweet reiterated the NCAA’s position on Title IX, noting a 2005 NCAA Executive Committee resolution that encourages institutions to abide by the education department’s 1996 clarification of “prong three” of the Title IX compliance test rather than the clarification issued last year that allows for compliance solely through electronic surveys to calculate women’s interests in sports. The resolution also urges the education department to rescind the additional clarification and honor the department’s commitment to enforce the legislation, including the 1996 clarification.

Sweet, who is stepping down from her position with the national office this summer, called her involvement in opposing a weakening of Title IX one of the most rewarding aspects of her career. She said the challenge of educating others about the intent of the Title IX legislation will continue.

“The Title IX team that worked from so many different parts of the country made a difference,” she said. “Unfortunately, our work is not done, but I know because of the quality of individuals who understand and are committed to making sure Title IX remains strong, we will win once again.”

New gender-equity report

Forum organizers also used a screening of the 1999 documentary “A Hero for Daisy” to drive home the forum’s theme of gender equity. In the film, producer and director Mary Mazzio focuses on the 19 members of the 1976 Yale University women’s rowing team who painted “Title IX” on their bodies, then stripped naked in the athletics department to emphasize the need for equitable facilities for men and women on campus.

Mazzio attended the screening along with Chris Ernst and Jennie Keisling, two members of the 1976 team who spearheaded the demonstration that drew attention from national news outlets. Mazzio, Ernst and Keisling, all of whom went on to earn positions on the U.S. Olympic rowing team, entertained questions from the audience, which included about 100 youth from a Cleveland rowing club.

In other highlights, participants in each of the forum’s divisional breakout sessions caught a preview of findings captured in the 2003-04 NCAA Gender-Equity Report scheduled to be available online this summer. Denise DeHass, NCAA associate director of research, said this year’s report further clarifies salary information by reflecting the portion paid by universities and the portion paid via a third party.

DeHass said the latest results show that overall expenses have increased significantly for both men’s and women’s athletics programs in all three divisions. In Division I, for example, the average total expenditures for women’s programs in 2002-03 were about $3.4 million compared to about $6.5 million for men’s programs. Data for the 2003-04 report reflect an increase of more than $700,000 for both men’s and women’s programs. While the increases from 2002-03 and 2003-04 are not as dramatic in Divisions II and III, they are noticeable — $152,800 and $147,100 in Division II men’s and women’s programs, respectively, and $94,500 and $106,800 in Division III. 

Data also indicate that the proportion of dollars spent on women’s programs remains relatively unchanged from the 2002-03 report.

Discussion breakout sessions

In the Division I breakout session, a panel of senior athletics administrators talked about communication as it relates to facilities, merging men’s and women’s athletics departments and among directors of athletics and their staffs. As part of the Division II session, panelists shared the importance of having and encouraging diversity within athletics departments. They also provided practical tips and suggestions for becoming an influential person within the athletics department.

Division III participants heard presentations on enhancing and advancing the role of women in athletics from a conference perspective and on using available NCAA resources to build an equitable and diverse athletics department. Also in Division III, presenter Connie Gores of Randolph-Macon Woman’s College talked about enrollment trends and their effects on recruiting, Title IX compliance and sponsorship of men’s and women’s athletics teams. She said women currently make up the majority (57 percent) of full-time undergraduates.

In the Divisions II and III sessions, members of the NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics also led discussions on the use of male practice players. Talk centered on the compliance issues that must be considered in the use of male practice players, and the opportunities that are either afforded or denied to student-athletes when such players are used.

In addition, participants took part in roundtable discussions focusing on topics such as professional-development opportunities, transgender issues, pay equity, fund-raising, sexual harassment and male practice players. Lunch and learn breakouts covered legal issues, female triad health issues, Title IX basics, student-athletes in cyberspace, creating a successful professional-development plan and life/ work balance.

Businessman and educator Stedman Graham also was a keynote speaker for the forum.

This year’s forum was part of Cleveland’s year-long city-wide celebration of girls and women leading up to the city’s hosting of the 2007 Women’s Final Four.