Sexism in Sports: Duke Univ Sued id RAA24684; Thu, 25 Sep 1997 17:23:46 -0400 Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit ------------------------- Via Workers World News Service Reprinted from the October 2, 1997 issue of Workers World newspaper ------------------------- DUKE U. HIT WITH SPORTS SEX-DISCRIMINATION SUIT By Vanessa Lewis Heather Mercer, a senior at Duke University, is suing the school after spending four years being denied the opportunity to compete for a place on the football team. Mercer, a place-kicker who helped her high school team win state championships, was told she was on the team. But then she was not allowed to practice with the team or stand on the sidelines. She wasn't even given a uniform. Mercer's sex-discrimination suit argues that Duke violated Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972. Title IX is a federal law mandating equal funding, facilities, and opportunities for women in educational programs receiving federal funds. She is also suing under North Carolina law for constructive fraud, negligent misrepresentation and breach of contract. The university's football coach, Fred Goldsmith, told Mercer that she would be a distraction from the team if allowed to be in uniform and stand on the sideline. Yet he had encouraged her to give media interviews about being the only woman kicker on a Division I team. Since Title IX went into effect in 1972, collegiate sports in particular have failed to put any concerted effort into creating those opportunities or providing equal funding and facilities. In 1997 a study by the National Collegiate Athletic Association showed that men are receiving $184 million more than women in college athletic scholarships. In the last five years, the comparative budgets for athletics ranged from $263,000 a year to $663,000 on average in women's athletics budgets and from $1.5 million a year to $2.4 million for men's athletics budgets. Women in sports--and in what are identified as women's sports because women play them--have traditionally been put on the back burner. The fact is that historically little if any attention has been given to these all-but-forgotten athletes with few exceptions. The reason is relatively simple. Universities prosper from men's athletics. Not only is there prestige in men's sports, but big money, too. Universities rely heavily on intercollegiate sports to bring money to their institutions through private funders, alumni associations, and of course corporate sponsors. The fact that these sports are dominated by men is nothing but a sexist norm. The recent emergence of the Women's National Basketball Association is an event long in coming. Women now have a professional basketball association, soccer league, and women will soon have their own version of Sports Illustrated. The capitalist media and big corporations are realizing that women in sports are marketable. But being equally exploitable doesn't make for equal opportunities. Heather Mercer's lawsuit is one of many in the important struggles going on in college and high school athletics. Similar suits have been filed and won with universities facing losing millions or complying with Title IX for equitable scholarships, equipment, training facilities, etc. Title IX is and has been an important piece of legislation for women athletes and women in general. However legislation will never mandate an end to sexism in this arena or any other. Continued fight back will. - END - (Copyright Workers World Service: Permission to reprint granted if source is cited. For more information contact Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011; via e-mail: ww@workers.org. For subscription info send message to: info@workers.org. Web: http://workers.org) ================================================================= NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 http://www.blythe.org e-mail: nyt@blythe.org ================================================================= nytfem-09.25.97-17:23:48-1546