Washington College Athletics Begins Yearlong Title IX at 50 Celebration on June 23, 2022, the 50th anniversary of Title IX’s signing. The landmark law, part of the Education Amendments of 1972, prohibits gender discrimination in educational programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance.
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.” Washington College Athletics planned to recognize the people who helped develop women’s athletics at the College during the anniversary year.
Thad Moore Discusses Title IX’s Impact
Thad Moore, Washington College’s associate vice president and director of athletics, said Title IX created significant opportunities for girls and women in sports. “With the signing of this historic law 50 years ago, Title IX opened the door for dramatic growth in sports opportunities for girls and women,” Moore said.
“We take great pride in offering a first-class experience to the women who wear the Shorewomen uniform, and over the course of this year, we plan to honor and recognize the people who helped us get where we are today,” Moore said.
Penny J. Fall’s Washington College Legacy
Penny J. Fall played an integral role in physical education instruction and the development of women’s athletics at Washington College from 1969 to 2001. She had responsibility for women’s athletic training, equipment, game management and scheduling while helping build the women’s athletic program from the intramural level into a competitive intercollegiate program.
By the time of Fall’s death in a car accident in December 2001, Washington College had grown from having no women’s varsity sports teams to 10 teams with more than 180 female student-athletes. Cain Gymnasium was renamed Penny J. Fall Gymnasium on April 24, 2021, in recognition of her contributions to women’s athletics at Washington College.
As Jim Siemens wrote in “Athey’s Field,” “She saw inequity as injustice, and she was vigilant in her efforts to see woman’s sports flourish.”
NCAA Planned National Title IX at 50 Programs
The NCAA planned programs, tributes and other activities through spring 2023, alongside member schools recognizing the anniversary. Those efforts were scheduled to culminate at the 2023 Women’s Final Four in Dallas, where Divisions I, II and III would hold their basketball championships.
Amy Wilson, managing director in the NCAA office of inclusion, outlined national plans during a Convention education session. The NCAA assembled a Title IX at 50 working group to develop celebration plans and ways to educate people about and highlight continued progress on equity.
“Title IX is turning 50 years old, and we are taking this opportunity to celebrate, motivate, encourage and support women and everyone engaged in improving equity for all,” Wilson said. “While progress is being made across intercollegiate athletics, including with our championships, the journey is not over.”
Maryland Sports Blog Take
Washington College Athletics connected the national Title IX anniversary to the people and milestones that shaped women’s sports at the College. Fall’s role coincided with the program’s growth from no women’s varsity teams to 10 teams with more than 180 female student-athletes by the time of her death in 2001.
The NCAA’s planned programs also placed Washington College Athletics’ recognition within a broader effort to celebrate progress and continue work on equity in intercollegiate athletics.
Source: Original report
