The Floor Was Warped
Women Athletes and MSU
Athletics in the Title IX Era
Javier Pescador, MSU History Department
Portia Vescio, MSU Archives
OVERVIEW
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NEW STATUS OF WOMEN IN SOCIETY
WOMEN STRUGGLE FOR GENDER EQUALITY
ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL AUTONOMY
EQUAL ACCESS TO EDUCATION
EQUAL ACCESS TO SPORTS PROGRAMS, TITLE
IX-ERA
PROFESSIONAL SPORTS
TENNIS, BASKETBALL, SOCCER, GOLF
HISTORY ANTECEDENTS
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1963 EQUAL PAY ACT AND 1964 CIVIL
RIGHTS ACT INCLUDED WOMEN AS
MINORITIES
WOMEN LIBERATION MOVEMENT
WOMEN ACCESS TO HIGHER
EDUCATION
WOMEN INCREASE PARTICIPATION IN
THE LABOR MARKET
ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE,
DISCRETIONARY INCOME, LEISURE
TIME.
BOSTON MARATHON 1967
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BOSTON MARATHON, 1897, FIRST IN
THE UNITED STATES, AFTER 1896
ATHENS OLYMPIC GAMES.
APR.19, 1967 K.V. SWITZER REGISTERED
FOR THE RACE. SYRACUSE UNIV.
RACE JUDGE JOCK SEMPLE DQ HER
SWITZER FINISHED THE RACE (4:20)
DISPELLING MYTHS ABOUT FEMALE
ATHLETES ENDURANCE/RESISTANCE.
KATHRINE SWITZER, JOCK SEMPLE AND THOMAS MILLER, BOSTON
MARATHON, APR.19 1967. PHOTO BY HARRY TRASKER OF BOSTON
TRAVLER. AP/WIDEWORLD PHOTO.
BOSTON INCIDENT LEGACY
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BOSTON MARATHON ADMITTED WOMEN
1972 RACE ON
SWITZER RAN EIGHT TIMES IN THE BOSTON
MARATHON
SWITZER WON NEW YORK CITY MARATHON
1974.
AVON INTERNATIONAL RUNNING CIRCUIT
WOMEN ACCEPTED IN OLYMPIC GAMES
MARATHON
WOMEN’S RUNNING REVOLUTION
PROFESSIONAL TENNIS
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BILLIE JEAN KING, 1960s-1970s
WORKING CLASS FAMILY IN
CALIFORNIA.
TOURNAMENT PRIZES FOR WOMEN
10% PRIZES FOR MEN IN OPEN TENNIS
VIRGINIA SLIMS CIRCUIT FORMED 1971
KING, FIRST PROF. FEM. ATHLETE
EARNING +100,000 1971
BATTLE OF THE SEXES
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BOBBY RIGGS, WIMBLEDON CHAMPION
1939 “WOMEN INFERIOR TO MEN, THUS
EQUAL PAY = OVERPAID”, RIGGS
BETTER THAN ANY PRO WOMAN
RIGGS CHALLENGED KING
RIGGS DEFEATED MARGARET COURT
“BATTLE OF THE SEXES” HOUSTON
ASTRODOME, 30,000 FANS LARGEST ATT
IN TENNIS EVER, 1973.
“BATTLE OF THE SEXES”
IMPACT
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BOXING MATCH STYLE ADDITIONAL $100,000
PURSE TO WINNER
MEDIA HYPE, RIGGS “OLD SCHOOL” vs
KING’S “RADICAL FEMINIST”
TV SUCCESS, HIGHEST RATINGS FOR TENNIS
BROADCASTING EVER
WOMEN TENNIS STANDARD FEATURE IN TV,
CHRIS EVERT SUPERSTAR ATHLETE
EQUITY IN PAY UNDISPUTED
WHO WON?
TITLE IX ERA
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1964 TITLE VII CIVIL RIGHTS ACT
PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION IN
EMPLOYMENT BASED ON RACE, SEX,
NATIONAL ORIGIN, OR RELIGION.
1966 COMMISSION FOR
INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS FOR
WOMEN CREATED
1966 FOUNDATION OF NATIONAL
ORGANIZATION OF WOMEN
TITLE IX ERA
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1971 UNITED STATES CONGRESS
HEARINGS ON SEX DISCRIMINATION
IN HIGHER EDUCATION
1971 ASSOCIATION FOR
INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS FOR
WOMEN (AIAW) FOUNDATION
1972 EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT
PASSES IN U.S. CONGRESS
1972 PRESIDENT NIXON SIGNS TITLE IX
INTO LAW
TITLE IX-ERA
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1972 EDUCATIONAL AMENDMENTS ACT,
SEXUAL DISCRIMINATION: “NO PERSON, ON
THE BASIS OF SEX, SHOULD BE DENIED THE
BENEFITS OF, OR BE DISCRIMINATED UNDER
ANY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS OR
ACTIVITIES RECEIVING FEDERAL FUNDING”
PROHIBITED IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND
COLLEGE/UNIVERSITIES WITH FEDERAL
FUNDING
1973 BAN ON ATHLETIC SCHOLARSHIPS FOR
WOMEN OUTLAWED
TITLE IX ERA
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1975 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH,
EDUCATION AND WELFARE, ISSUES
GUIDELINES FOR TITLE IX
IMPLEMENTATION
1978 TITLE IX MANDATORY
COMPLIANCE FOR ALL HIGH SCHOOLS
AND POST-SECONDARY INSTITUTIONS.
1979 U.S. DEPT. HEALTH, EDUCATION
AND WELFARE ADDS ATHLETICS INTO
INTERPRETATION OF TITLE IX
TITLE IX
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UNIVERSITIES AND SCHOOLS SHOULD
OFFER THE SAME NUMBER OF SPORTS
FOR WOMEN AND MEN
WOMEN’S AND MEN’S PROGRAMS WITH
FUNDING PROPORTIONATE TO THE
RATIO OF FEMALE/MALE ATHLETES
1970’S RATIOS BIG TEN: $1/$1300, WASH
STATE: 1% ATHLETIC BUDGET FOR
WOMEN PROGRAMS
REACTIONS TO TITLE IX
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NCAA STRONGEST OPPOSITION
FOOTBALL & BASKETBALL PROGRAMS,
ATHLETIC DEPARTMENTS, STRONG
OPPOSITION.
1974-1979 LEGAL ATTEMPTS TO REVERSE OR
NULLIFY TITLE IX APPLICATION TO
COLLEGE SPORTS.
NCAA LEGAL ATTEMPTS FAILED, 1980
CHANGED STRATEGY
1981-82 NCAA WOMEN NATIONAL
TOURNAMENTS, 16% OF POSITIONS TO
WOMEN.
1984 AIAW DISAPPEARED
LEGAL REACTIONS
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1975 TOWER AMENDMENT, EXEMPTING
REVENUE-SPORTS FROM TITLE IX
1984 GROVE CITY COLLEGE vs BELL:
NON-FEDERAL FUNDED PROGRAMS
NOT INCLUDED IN TITLE IX
1988 CIVIL RIGHTS RESTORATION ACT:
SCHOOLS ORDERED TO ELIMINATE
GENDER DISCRIMINATION IN ALL
THEIR PROGRAMS, INCLUDING
ATHLETICS DEPARTMENTS
COLLEGE PARTICIPATION
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1992 34% COLLEGE ATHLETES: WOMEN
INTERCOLL. SPORTS 1970s 16,000, 1980s
160 000 WOMEN ATHLETES
H.S. WOMEN 1/3 ATHLETES
NOT A SINGLE SCHOOL HAS MET YET
GENDER EQUITY STANDARDS
WOMEN COACHES DECREASED AS
TEAM SPORTS TURNED COMPETITIVE
BEFORE TITLE IX 90% FEM AFTER 50%
TITLE IX IMPACT
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PERSISTENCE OF STRONG GENDER
INEQUALITIES IN COLLEGE SPORTS, FAILURE
TO END GENDER DISCRIMINATION IN
COLLEGE SPORTS
FAILURE TO REVERSE TRADITIONAL
PATTERNS OF DIFFERENTIAL TREATMENT
SIGNIFICANT INCREASE OF WOMEN’S
PARTICIPATION IN COMPETITIVE TEAM
SPORTS
CREATION OF VENUES FOR NEW WOMEN’S
PROFESSIONAL SPORTS
TITLE IX AND MSU SPORTS
Karen Langeland, MSU Women’s Basketball Coach, 1976-2000
Conditions of Title IX
Implementation
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After the law was passed schools had to comply
with at least one of the following requirements:
 Schools must provide athletic opportunities
that are proportionate to student enrollment
 They must demonstrate a continual expansion
of athletic opportunities for the
underrepresented gender
 A full and effective accommodation of the
interest and ability of the underrepresented
gender must be present
On July 21, 1976, MSU conducted a “Self-Evaluation as
Required by Title IX of The Education Amendments of 1972”
1976 MSU Self-Evaluation Report
Findings
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They believed that changes were needed if they
expected to make it work under Title IX
Committee concluded that facilities for both
men’s and women’s sports are adequate and of
comparable quality
They recommended that $130,000 be spent
towards the women’s budget and improving
their facilities
They also recommended that new positions be
created to carry out Title IX
 Director of Athletics, 3 Assistant Directors,
and the Affirmative Action Committee
On April 15, 1978 the members of
MSU women’s basketball team
unanimously agreed to file a
complaint against MSU Athletic
department for “gross violations of
the regulations of Title IX
Education Amendments of 1972”
Early Women on Campus
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Early agriculture
curriculum not of
interest to women
First women students
entered 1870
Main problem was
housing women
students
Early Women’s Athletics
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1888 – Women regular
members of tennis club
Competed in field days
in tennis from 1896
Early women’s sports:
fencing, pistol, field
hockey, and swimming
Athletics in Curriculum
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Women’s Course begins
in 1896 – women
admitted as regular
students
Women’s Building
(Morrill Hall) included a
gymnasium so women
could exercise
Calisthenics part of
curriculum for women’s
course
Women’s Athletic Association
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Organized in 1924 by Helen Grimes, director of
physical education
Oversaw competition between the classes in baseball,
field hockey, soccer, basketball, volleyball, and rifle
By 1926 had a membership of 100 athletes
Co-eds had to follow certain rules
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Sleep 8 hours per night; one cup of coffee per day, no
smoking
Source: M.S.C. Record, November 1926
Women’s sports ‘30s & ‘40s
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Intramurals consisted of
about 20 different sports
WAA joined the Athletic
Federation of College
Women
Women’s program
expands around WWII
with decreased male
population
Women’s Sports ‘50s & ‘60s
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In 1962 Carol Harding (MSU) was hired as the
first full-time Director of Women’s Intramural
Sports in the Big Ten Conference
Women’s intramural teams competed on a state
and even national levels
Money was issue – fundraising consisted of bake
sales and garage sales
 Officiating done by classes, when possible
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Title IX Suit
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April 25, 1978 – Women’s basketball team members
filed Title IX Complaint
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Facilities – competition, training, and practice
Scheduling
Travel
Equipment, supplied and uniforms
Coach’s pay and job status
Academic assistance
Athletic scholarships
Scholarship comparison
Women
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Men
In 1976, first athletic
scholarship money
awarded - $3000 for
basketball team
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In 1976, 14 players
received full scholarships
– approx $31,000
Tuition and Board in 1976
 In State - $2400
 Out of State - $3500
Coaching comparison
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Women’s varsity team has one coach, assisted by
j-v coach
Women’s coaches are graduate students who
must teach and pursue degree in addition to
coaching
Men’s varsity team have head coach plus two
assistants. Men’s j-v has own coach.
Men’s coaches do not have to teach
12 points of the suit
Safety
1. No physician in attendance at games
2. Practiced played on a dirty floor with
3. Fixtures protruding from it
 Health
4. Lower per diem food allowance
5. Gym was too cold and regulation of
temperature was not possible
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12 points, cont.
Fairness
6. Only one pair of shoes per player
7. Practiced & played on warped gym floor
8. Provided transportation to away games by car
or bus, sometimes up to 11 hours
9. No provision of laundry for uniforms
10. Not provided housing or food during winter
holiday practice
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12 points, cont.
Fairness, cont.
11. Provided no training table
12. Forced to sleep 4 players to a room, 2 per bed
on trips to away games
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Nell Jackson’s Assessment 1975
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Unable to provide adequate practice uniforms
Unable to provide sufficient equipment
Teams forced to stay in 2nd rate hotels due to
budget constraints
Large groups forced to travel in station wagons
and cars instead of buses
Inadequate practice space for basketball and
volleyball teams when seasons overlap
MSU’s Preliminary Response
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Playing conditions in Men’s IM would be
improved
An Affirmative Action Committee appointed to
review problems and suggest solutions
Investigate student manager program for
women’s teams
“Under any compliance review, more dollars will
be required for women’s athletics. The question
is one of magnitude.”
Specific Immediate Outcomes
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MSU did work on conditions in Men’s IM
Women provided housing during holidays
MSU agreed to pay women’s team equal per
diem to men’s team
Coach Karen Langeland unaffected by suit
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Continued to coach until 2000 when voluntarily
stepped down
Legacy of Title IX
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1980 – Women given Varsity letters for first
time
2001 Men Gymnastics team is cut – men protest
2002 – Over 300 former women athletes
awarded Varsity letters
In 2002, men’s athletics received 67% of the
athletics budget and 72% of the recruiting
budget
2001 Gymnastics Protest
CLASS ASSIGNMENT
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USING THE EXAMPLES OF WNBA ,
NCAA AND PROFESSIONAL TENNIS
PLAYERS, COMPARE THE TREATMENT
WOMEN ATHLETES RECEIVE FROM
THE MEDIA WITH THE COVERAGE
GIVEN TO THEIR MALE
COUNTERPARTS IN THE NCAA, NBA
AND PRO-TENNIS RESPECTIVELY.
PROVIDE CONCRETE EXAMPLES TO
SUPPORT YOUR ARGUMENT.