STILL A LONG WAY TO GO

Long Fights for [WOMEN] Sports Equity, Even With a Law

Southern California was accused of denying its female students a fair chance at participating in sports. Thirteen years later, the federal agency charged with investigating sex discrimination in schools has not completed its inquiry into U.S.C.

In 2008, the same federal agency, the Office for Civil Rights, came across evidence that Ball State University in Indiana was losing a disproportionate number of coaches of its women’s teams. But the agency opted to let Ball State investigate itself. After a two-week inquiry, the university concluded that there was no evidence that any of the coaches had been unfairly treated or let go.

The federal law known as Title IX — requiring schools at all levels across the country to offer girls and women equal access to athletics — has produced a wealth of progress since it was enacted. But scores of schools still fail to abide by the law.

                           New York Times July 29, 2011