Tuesday's congressional hearing on the effects of Title IX
showed that "no one is completely satisfied with enforcement of
the 1972 gender-equity law," according to Harry Blauvelt of USA
TODAY. Rep. Dennis Hastert (R-IL): "This is the only civil
rights law I know of where innocent bystanders are punished. The
elimination of opportunities was never the intent of Title IX"
(USA TODAY, 5/10). Hastert also noted some universities are
forced to cut men's programs like swimming and wrestling in order
to provide sports programs for women. Hastert declares these
students are, "caught in a quota system which makes them a number
and not an athlete." Rep. Cardiss Collins (D-IL) took a
different point of view. Collins: "I am sure that during the
course of this hearing, you will hear the same old, tired
arguments that Title IX is taking opportunities away from men.
(These arguments come from) school administrators or football
coaches who fear that increasing opportunities for women will
come out of their hides. It is time for the schools to share
their resources fairly" (Athelia Knight, WASHINGTON POST, 5/10).
Brown University President Vartan Gregorian testified that the
statute is very confusing and needs clarifying. Gregorian: "I am
a frustrated university administrator who does not like
bureaucracy and who does not like to be intimidated by lawyers
and who would like a clear policy" (N.Y. TIMES, 5/10). Lawmakers
have decided to take the day's testimony and analyze it before
making any changes to the 23-year-old statute. Subcommittee
Chair Rep. Buck McKeon (R-CA): "We'd like to digest what we
learned today" (USA TODAY, 5/10).
