Title IX requires schools to have the same gender balance in sports participation as the school has in its student body.
JMU has a student population that is 61% female and 39% male. Consequently the school administrators cut 10 varsity athletic programs - 7 men's and 3 women's.
The men's programs that were cut are - archery, cross country, gymnasitics, indoor track, outdoor track, wrestling and swimming.
The women lost archery, fencing and gymnastics.
With a push of a button on a calculator...athletic participation is now in line with gender ratio.
Problem is, you now have girls who can't WALK laps in a pool getting scholarships and boys who have been devoted athletes left with nothing.
In an attempt to be 'fair' the serious athletes are left out...well, in the cold.
Title IX can force a school to be compliant but not all girls or boys desire to participate in athletics equally.
Why can't a survey of students be taken to determine who wants to participate in sports with qualifying standards, THEN apply Title IX.
JMU's actions only echo just how stupid the administrators of the provision can be.
What do you think?
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I go to JMU and I think its a sad state of affairs when kids have to lose their scholarships over BS ways to try and have some sort of gender equality...let the kids play
Posted by: jmu | November 3, 2006 7:18 PM | Permalink to Comment