KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan University Athletics Department has joined the nationwide celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Title IX legislation passed into law in 1972. The Mid-American Conference, WMU and NCAA will celebrate this milestone throughout the 2022 calendar.
WMU Athletics will be sharing "What does Title IX Mean to You?" videos throughout the year, recorded by student-athletes, and will host "Real Talk" seminars discussing topics revolving around Title IX. This year's MAC Hall of Fame will also feature Title IX Trailblazers within the conference. Furthermore, the WMU Athletics Hall of Fame ceremony will be re-introduced this year, and will have a special focus on celebrating Title IX.
"I am so impressed by the efforts of our student-led Diversity Task Force in creating a robust and celebratory timeline of events to celebrate the birth of Title IX," said Director of Athletics
Dan Bartholomae. "The positive impact of this landmark legislation is woven directly into the fabric of the Western Michigan Athletic Department, and we honor the opportunity to celebrate the great accomplishments of our past, present and future women athletes and leaders."
Special thanks to the WMU Athletics Diversity Task Force, Dr. Luchara Wallace, Dr. Candy McCorkle,
Keanah Smith,
Tess Abbott, Felicia Crawford,
Elizabeth Knips,
Greg Cronkite,
Matt Kulik,
Amy Washington and
Elyse Perry.
Since its passage, Title IX has dramatically increased athletic opportunities for women and girls. The Title IX regulation contains specific provisions governing athletic programs and educational institutions. The primary benefit of Title IX is that it requires schools to provide equal access to men and women for opportunities that are being offered if they receive federal funding.
"Title IX is a landmark piece of legislation that advanced civil rights and social justice. It brought to the forefront our necessity to achieve balance, increase access and representation in sport and academia," said Faculty Athletics Representative Dr. Luchara Wallace. "Title IX revolutionized how we think about inclusion, and further expanded our definition and understanding about the many ways that we are a stronger campus and athletics department when we provide a wider range of opportunities for both female and male student-athletes. When it was signed, men were no longer the sole beneficiaries of access to education through sport. Title IX opened up the door for women, too."
A leader of the student-led task force, gymnastics student-athlete
Tess Abbott said, "The 50th Anniversary of Title IX has been fully embraced here at Western Michigan, and we want to celebrate the milestone through events at the institution, and in the community at large. We strive to create awareness of the progress of Title IX and women in sports. We aim to not only recognize the progress, but also acknowledge the continued work that needs to be done, and develop a plan to continue to make strides."
Key Title IX Moments at WMU:
- 1973-74 – The women's basketball program plays its first game in Read Fieldhouse
- 1975 – Fran Ebert becomes the first head coach of the varsity softball program
- 1977-78 – The first athletic scholarship is given to Jean Schrader for women's basketball
- 1978-79 – The awarding of letter jackets for female athletes is approved by the board, with the first jackets awarded in 1981
- 1978-79 – Annette Murray is named the first head coach of the women's cross country program
- 1982 – The volleyball program wins its first MAC regular season and tournament titles and makes its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament
- 1983 – The softball program clinches its first regular season title
- 1984 – Women's cross country captures its first MAC Championship
- 1984 – Women's tennis wins its first MAC regular season title
- 1985 – The women's track and field team wins its first MAC Championship
- 1985 – Softball captures its first MAC Tournament title
- 1986 – The women's gymnastics program wins its first MAC Championship
- 1996 – Kate O'Shaughnessy becomes the first head coach of the women's soccer program
- 1996 – Katie Markey becomes the first student-athlete to sign with the women's soccer program
- 1997 – Women's tennis wins its first MAC Tournament title
- Sep. 29, 1997 – Kathy Beauregard becomes first female head athletic director
- 1998 – Cindy Trout is named the first head coach of the women's golf program
- 1999 – Women's golf wins the first team title in program history at the Bronco Triangular
- 2003 – The women's soccer program wins its first MAC Tournament Championship and makes its first NCAA College Cup appearance
Currently, WMU offers nine women's varsity athletic programs for 124 female student-athletes. Six of our nine women's programs have female head coaches.
The WMU Athletic Department will continue to celebrate the Title IX anniversary throughout 2022 and focus on empowering women and educating people on women's issues. Stay tuned to WMUbroncos.com for updates and announcements.
On Saturday, Feb. 4, the WMU Athletics Department kicked off the year-long celebration with National Girls and Women in Sports Day prior to, and during the women's basketball game inside University Arena. Prior to the start of the basketball game, WMU hosted an athletics showcase around the arena, featuring hands-on interactive stations from our various athletic programs including volleyball, golf, softball, track & field, football, soccer, gymnastics, and cheer & dance.
Over 100 youth and families participated in the event, and were able to interact with WMU Broncos teams and student-athletes, while taking part in learning a sport-specific skill or activity.
