Denison aimes to improve gender equity in their athletics

Denison has come a long way in making sure that Title IX is effectively implemented within its own athletic structure.

"When I started here nine years ago there were definitely some areas within our own athletic department that could definitely use improving." Sara Lee, head women's basketball coach said.

Provost Charlie Morris agrees.

"When I started out [as provost] there were several areas that needed drastic changing if Denison was to be in full compliance with Title IX," Morris commented.

The most important tool Morris uses in aiding Denison's athletic program in becoming a gender equal institution is the three-part test of gender equity, put out by the Office of Civil Rights (OCR). The first question of the three-part test asks if participation opportunities are substantially proportional to enrollment.

Although Denison does offer an equal number of varsity sports for both women and men, men comprise 3/5 of the athletes at Denison.

Morris stresses, however, that because Denison has a football program the numbers are going to be skewed because football carries the most amount of any team.

Denison's most recent advancement in passing the first part of this test was the addition of a women's softball team for competition in the spring of 96.

In the academic year of 94-95 only 37 percent of women participated in athletics. In the year 96-97, the number increased to 40 percent, a marked rise.

The next question of the test asks if there is a history and continuing practice of program expansion for the under-represented sex.

Morris feels that this is where Denison really shines.

Since Title IX took effect in the early 1970s, Denison has added three new varsity sports for women: soccer, cross country and softball.

Also, as charter members of the North Coast Athletic Conference (est. 1983), Denison has always fielded teams in every women's sport that the conference offers.

In addition, the NCAC's women's athletic sports is the fourth highest out of 88 conferences that the NCAA supports.

"OCR considers actions taken in the most recent three years as indicators of continuing expansion. Very few institutions satisfy this test," Morris stated.

The third and final test for determining if an institution is gender equitable asks if the institution is fully and effectively accommodating the interests and abilities of the under-represented sex.

"Institutions may comply with the third test by offering teams for women in which there is sufficient interest and ability for a viable team with a reasonable expectation of competition in the institution's normal competitive region," Morris said.

Denison complies with this test whenever possible.

As an interest was shown for competition on the varsity level for softball, in 1996 the sport became varsity.

However, the OCAC chose not to open softball up for conference competition until 1998.

Despite the OCR coming out with their own three-part test, Morris also recognizes additional factors that effect the idea of whether or not a University complies with Title IX.

One of these factors is salary. Morris stressed that Title IX is not a law set up simply to assure that women play in athletics. Rather, it is a law that ensures all women get the same opportunity as men.

"If the salaries are skewed to favor the men's coaches," states Morris. "Then the women's strength of instruction is not equal to the men's. Even though both are presumed to be on the same level of ability (Division III)."

While Morris could not release individual salaries, he emphasized that when a new coach needs to be hired, the same salary offer is extended to a men's coach as it would be a women's coach of the same sport.

The amount of financial support provided for women's and men's teams is one of the most scrutinized factors when determining if Title IX is being complied within a particular institution.

"Often times," said Morris, "it is also the factor [that is] most misinterpreted."

For instance, the men's basketball team in the season of '96-'97 spent an average of $1474 pre athlete whereas the women's basketball team spent only $1279 per athlete.

"There are different factors that influence each sport that people hardly ever take into consideration. For instance, in the case of basketball the OCAC requires that there be three referees for a game rather then the two mandated for a women's competition," Morris said.

Other discrepancies arise from the fact that different teams play different schedules.

For instance, the women's volleyball team spends an average of $1461 for each of their athletes, while the football team spends only $998.

However, the volleyball team travels to different tournaments, whereas the football team plays a schedule that is relegated to the eastern Midwest and the western mid-Atlantic.

Lee conceded that Denison did have some improvements to make in gender equity when she first arrived here nine years ago.

"Right now I would say that, while Denison can still make some improvements, the changes they have made are unparalleled by many schools both in our division and [other divisions]" Lee said.

"It is difficult to comply with all of Title IX's requirements," Morris said.

"Denison comes closer to complying than most colleges, and is among the leaders within a conference that has led the way in terms of gender equity," he continued.

Morris feels that it would be pinnacle to conduct a study in which the athletic interests of women students at Denison were assessed.

He feels that this study would further Denison's success in forming a gender equitable college.

-Edward Derosa Denisonian