The Women\'s International Bowling Congress ...Weaken Title IX and are encouraging its members to voice their strong support of Title IX by writing letters to the Commission on Opportunity in Athletics and their local and state legislators.

Angel makes the point that weakening Title IX isn't good enough and that it be should completely dismantled in her latest Right Approach column, Potentially Weakened? Not Good Enough, Lets Dismantle It!

What do you think?
Should Title IX be supported as the WIBC asks or should it be dismantled? Share your opinions in this topic.

About time Angel wrote another column. As is most often the case, I agree with her sentiments. The law in question has outlived its usefulness. While women frequently got the short end of the stick in the past, I think that modern awareness prevents that. Personally, I wouldn't be sad if so-called major sports such as football were eliminated entirely, but as a sacred cow it's not likel;y.
Doc

::sniff, sniff:: My school did lose its football team over the financial problems caused by Title IX. While no CSUN players went on to play in the NFL except during the strikes, I'm sure many went on to be school teachers, since CSUN is a great "teaching" school.

It was easier to eliminate 70 players, their expenses as part of the team, and their scholarships at a commuter school than it was to try to create 70 opportunities at a school where most people just went to class and went back home.

I really don't like the idea that a sports organization is trying to tell me how to vote politically. It's NOT what I am paying them for.

I agree Angel - you are right on with your assessment of Title IX. It has outlived its usefulness. In my own opinion, it has generated a "reverse discrimination", if you will. I have seen many talented young men work very hard to get to the collegiate ranks only to have the recruitment scholarship money go to the women. Look what it has done to the men's powerhouse teams Central Missouri State and Nebraska in the past 2 years. Talk to the members of those men's teams and see how they feel now. And because so much money is invested in their women's teams the men's teams are no longer getting the coaching or attention they deserve.

Angel, it's not just smaller schools where the mens' teams got the short end of the stick because of Title IX

The University of Miami, which has more money than god, eliminated the Diving team and teh Crew team, both NCAA (The diving team had many famous people such as Greg Louganis), rather than start up women's teams instead.

And now, because of it, the football and baseball teams have more money in their budgets I'd guess because they don't have to share with with as many teams. Not one women's sport was created.

But hey, at least it's equal now - they screwed over the men do bring them down to the level the women's teams were at.

Yeah, that's fair.

Hello,

Before we rush off to join those that would restrict/remove Title IX, lets see what is really at stake.

Part of the orginal charter of Sectretary of Education's Commision on Opportuntity in Athletics currently examining Title IX, and the source of the recent WIBC call to arms, ask a rather simple question;

"How should activities such as cheerleading or bowling factor into the analysis of equitable opportunities?"

At its core the commission is addressing the issue of whether or not bowling should be considered a sport, that must be included in the analysis, or is it a non-sport activity.

Nor is the scope of the Commision simply limited to the collegate level and scholarship opportunities. From the Commision's Q & A web page;

"Does Title IX apply to high school sports as well?

Yes. Title IX does apply to high school athletics. Although any proposed revisions would be
designed for intercollegiate athletics, their general principles may apply, as appropriate, to
club, intramural, and interscholastic athletic programs."

High school bowling is also on the chopping block.

High school bowling just saw it's 6th state add bowling as a "BOYS" varsity sport. Granted the are more states where it is only a "GIRLS" sport. But under Title IX there is nothing to preclude both to exsist, just as there is nothing to preclude the NCAA from establishing a "mens" bowling division. Yes it will be a rough road, not only in persuding colleges to put the resourses into a mens program, but in getting college level men to give up tournaments such as the mini-eliminators, where they can cash, to preserve their amatuer status.

In the mean time, does it make any sense to turn our backs of the 5 scholarship per college that women currently are recieving for bowling NCAA. With a minimum of 40 schools x 5 scholarships equals 200 full ride opportunities. The cost of tutition and living expesnse at University of Nebreska, non resident, who does have a NCAA bowling program, is $16,349. I pick the school out at random. On that basis, YABA would have to come upwith an additional $3,269,800 dollars in scholarship money, and make sure that it could only go to women, just to replace the "Current" lost opportunities if we support restrictions or removal of Title IX and NCAA bowling.

It has been alluded current scholarship money would be lost. Far from it. The only ones effected are those who may consider accepting a NCAA scholarship. Just how many female junior bowlers have amassed $65,396 that it would take to fund 4 years at the University of Nebraska? If you could name one, I would be suprised, to be able to name 200 plus, impossible . Those that accept an NCAA bowling scholarship are just getting a better deal. Any SMART scholarships that they had received as a result of specific performance in a bowling tournament/league would go back to the sponsoring group, where it could be re-used for scholarships to others, nothing lost there. Any scholarships that were awarded for general scholarship/bowling efforts, in most cases they should be able to keep in addition to their NCAA scholarship.

In the real world, I talked with one 16 year old girl and her coach about NCAA opportunities that now exsist, last summer. Over the weekend, her coach reported that the girl had more than doubled her practice time and was hitting the books harder than anytime in her life. As the coach reported, given the family situation and the amount of YABA scholarships locally available, the best the girl could expect would be a semister or two at a local college, or getting one of the NCAA scholarships.

We would take that away from her, to prevent possible embarresment?

I'm sorry that some schools have lost football programs, I enjoy the sport. Truth is that among NCAA football programs, 78% spend more money that they raise and contribute nothing to other sports budgets. Over 30% of Division 1-A football programs are running in excess of $1 million in deficits a year. Is it any wonder why some other mens sports programs are being cut? Or as a last resort, a football program gets dismantled? It would make life alot easier for if they could cut into womens sports as well, as those who support restriction or removal of Title IX propose.

Instead of buying into the myth that Title IX is the cause, the scapegoat on which to blame all the troubles on, remember that Title IX does not require a specific amount money that a school has to come up with. Or what specific programs that they have to offer. Only that the money available should be equally distributed between both mens and womens programs. And this applies not just to colleges, but to high schools as well.

Its a question of fairness. Lets put it another way. Would WIBC members put up with a system that allowed prize funds in mixed leagues to be split 60/40, with the women getting the short end of the stick? We all pay taxes and the fees equally that fund the sport opportunies at high school and colleges. Why shouldn't the funds be split equally?

Now if you really think that bowling is not a sport, that high school bowling has no value, that losing millions in scholarship dollars is ok, that WIBC has no business informing you of the dangers that the status quo is facing and how to take steps to prevent us from shooting our selves in the foot, again, then join those who would either restrict or remove Title IX.

Lon

Coach Rich,

And who is going to monitor that the scholarship funds sre indeed slpit 50/50 men/women equally in the collegiate ranks. As it stands now 95% of the scholarship money is going to the women. From what I have been told, and this has not been confirmed in any way, all 5 starters for the University of Nebraska women's team are on full scholarship rides. The men? None. Perhaps someone in the know can confirm or deny that.

Some certified high school bowling leagues are Mixed leagues(bravo for them!). How would the ruling as High School Bowling as a sanctioned "Men's sport" effect that?

I still deem that Title IX has outlived its usefullness.

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="VERDANA,ARIAL,HELVETICA,TAHOMA">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="VERDANA,ARIAL,HELVETICA,TAHOMA">Originally posted by Idahocoach:


It has been alluded current scholarship money would be lost. Far from it. The only ones effected are those who may consider accepting a NCAA scholarship. Just how many female junior bowlers have amassed $65,396 that it would take to fund 4 years at the University of Nebraska? If you could name one, I would be suprised, to be able to name 200 plus, impossible . Those that accept an NCAA bowling scholarship are just getting a better deal. Any SMART scholarships that they had received as a result of specific performance in a bowling tournament/league would go back to the sponsoring group, where it could be re-used for scholarships to others, nothing lost there. Any scholarships that were awarded for general scholarship/bowling efforts, in most cases they should be able to keep in addition to their NCAA scholarship.

In the real world, I talked with one 16 year old girl and her coach about NCAA opportunities that now exsist, last summer. Over the weekend, her coach reported that the girl had more than doubled her practice time and was hitting the books harder than anytime in her life. As the coach reported, given the family situation and the amount of YABA scholarships locally available, the best the girl could expect would be a semister or two at a local college, or getting one of the NCAA scholarships.

We would take that away from her, to prevent possible embarresment?

</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="VERDANA,ARIAL,HELVETICA,TAHOMA">Wait, so if I spend every weekend encouraging kids to bowl and I spend hours every week creating Gran Prix and other scholarship opportunities, and some student gets an NCAA scholarship and is denied access to money some have been earning since bumpers, that's NOT lost?

No offense, but in my world if a kid loses a few thousand dollars earned while bowling tournaments that cost probably close to that to enter, something *has* been lost.

And while I'm glad that a few girls might get a shot at a few full rides at places like Nebraska, I have boys in the program to think about as well. When kids ask me what's a good bowling school, I turn the question on them and ask, "What do you want to do aside from bowling?" Even pros on tour I know tell kids the same thing. Bowling, unfortunately, isn't always forever.

Hello Angel,

Nothing is lost. The "few thousand dollars" goes back to the sponsoring organization to be re-used for additional scholarships. The bowler that gave up the right to that money, and remember it is their choice, is having not only having that money replaced from a different source, but additional funds that can carry them for the full four years. Who is being harmed, not the bowler, they wind up with more money than when they started.

The local tournaments, Gran Prixs ect, won't be harmed either, so your volunteer efforts won't be wasted. Colleges look at performance to determine who to award the scholarships too. Assuming that student has good enough grades to begin with, what the student has done in tournaments, local, regional, or national, will be the deciding factor.

Case in point, we have a 16 year old girl, who won State Team USA, defeating both YABA and WIBC members and will be representing Idaho in Reno at the National Tournament. In our monthly traveling tournament she posted a 191.34 average with a high of 299 and 776. She won no scholarship money in the monthly tournament. Four boys, with averages of 206.58, 198.58, 197.73, and 191.63, won all the scratch money. She has posted solid numbers and accomplishments to go on her college application, due to her involvement in tournaments. She doesn't need to win scholarship money to justify her entry fees. Each tournament is an opportunity to add to her resume'. And considering that her Dad is permanently disabled, a full ride is going to be more valuable than a "few thousand dollars". By the way, this is a different girl from my orginal post, from a different part of the state.

I agree that we need to think about the boys, I have a son that bowls collegate. I don't agree that we need to retreat and be defensive, but to continue to work towards adding the boys to the list of approved sports. Just like recent additions golf and soccer are both male and female NCAA sports, so can be bowling. Having the girls lead, gets us in the door, and developing a Track record that will help the boys.

Bowl4life,

Enforcement of Title IX rests with the Department of Education. Whose Commmision is currently considering wether bowling is a sport or just a recreation activity, a change from the current status, where it is considered a sport.

Title IX does not dictate 50/50 splits in particular sports, otherwise there would be no football or a girls football team. Rather, that the total funds, should be split equally, with the local school free to determine which sports to offer to girls and which sports to offer to boys. You can have a boys bowling program, with scholarships, but it has to come out of the boys slice of the pie.

You also can have mixed leagues and tournaments, both in high school and at the college level under Title IX. Being an "offical" or "varsity", mens and/or womens sport, means that funds from the "sports" budget can be used to pay for travel, entry fees, and other expenses. Course if the Commision finds that bowling is just a recreation, not a sport, then neither boys or girls will get anything in the way of support.

Since Title IX was adopted, sports such as soccer, have been added as both boys and girls sports both at the High School and NCAA level. It has been done, and it can be done for bowling. Right now we are sitting on 42 schools at the NCAA level for women, I consider 210 full ride scholarships as just a start, but more than a "few". From what I understand, CBUSA is getting an average of 1 serious call a week from colleges looking to add bowling. If we just get to the 10% range of NCAA schools we would be talking about 500 in full ride scholarship for the girls, have a presence to make the case for the boys, and any of the scholarship money that is supposedly "lost" going back to help additional bowlers, both boys and girls.

Lon

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="VERDANA,ARIAL,HELVETICA,TAHOMA">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="VERDANA,ARIAL,HELVETICA,TAHOMA"> I'm sorry that some schools have lost football programs, I enjoy the sport. Truth is that among NCAA football programs, 78% spend more money that they raise and contribute nothing to other sports budgets. Over 30% of Division 1-A football programs are running in excess of $1 million in deficits a year. Is it any wonder why some other mens sports programs are being cut? Or as a last resort, a football program gets dismantled? It would make life alot easier for if they could cut into womens sports as well, as those who support restriction or removal of Title IX propose.</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="VERDANA,ARIAL,HELVETICA,TAHOMA">I would say that the number of schools losing football programs is very very small compared to the number of smaller sports that are getting cut. Football is a cash cow to all schools that have that program and no college would ever think about cutting a football program before some other less-known sport.