How Title IX Applies To Stevenson's New Football Program

has had its hands full starting a brand-new football program, from securing financing, to hiring coaches and recruiting players, but staying in compliance with Title IX has been as big a part of that process as any.

In part, Title IX states: “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance…”

Rules pertaining to Title IX took effect on June 23, 1972 as a part of the Education Amendments of 1972. It came as an amendment to the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

While Title IX provided better opportunities for women in the academic world, it's most often referenced regarding the role it has played in college sports, where the rules have provided equality for women.

While some believe it only means a school must have an equal number of men’s and women’s athletes on campus, it actually goes much deeper.

There are three key areas:


1. Proportionality

The school must have equal scholarship money based on the proportion of males to females on campus. For Stevenson, this does not present an issue because Division III schools cannot award athletic scholarships.


2. Accommodation of interests and abilities

This basically means presenting emerging women’s sports on campus. For Stevenson Athletic Director Brett Adams, that became a labor-intensive part of his work.

“We looked at women’s sports that would complement football, and most people think of rugby as the women’s complement to football,” Adams said. “I looked at it and I said, even though it’s an emerging sport for women, there were five (women’s) NCAA rugby teams seven years ago. Today, there are (still) five, and it’s just not growing.

Women’s ice hockey, on the other hand, is a sport that is growing, Adams said, and even though it can be more costly because of the equipment and the time that must be spent on the ice, the football program should help to cover that bill.

During Patch's interview with Adams, the contract was signed to start women’s ice hockey at Stevenson University.

“Our goal is to make sure that we’re providing additional opportunities for women in a really great atmosphere, and then also making sure they have the resources that are equitable,” Adams said.


3. Equal treatment for both male and female athletes

This includes everything from equipment quality, practice time, opportunities to receive academic tutoring, locker rooms and publicity.

It is something Adams and the university have taken great pride in, and will continue to, as they move forward with football and women's ice hockey.

“And I think that’s really the power of Title IX,” Adams said. “We can provide additional opportunities for women that we probably otherwise wouldn’t have.”