Members of the Cornell women's field hockey team (white tops, dark skirts) battle with players from Harvard during the teams' Oct. 10 contest at Schoellkopf Field. The Big Red triumphed 3-0. Frank DiMeo/University Photography
The Cornell Department of Athletics and Physical Education has made a concerted effort in the past few years to address past gender inequities by increasing financial support, upgrading facilities and hiring additional coaches and other support staff for women's sports teams, department officials say.
"Cornell has had a strong history and tradition in women's sports, and we are continuing to strengthen our commitment to our female student-athletes by enhancing these programs," said Athletics Director Charles H. Moore.
Title IX of the Educational Amendment Act of 1972 prohibits sex discrimination in programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance from the Department of Education, and women's athletics programs nationally have received particular attention because of that mandate. The 1979 Intercollegiate Athletics Policy Interpretation of Title IX divides athletics issues into three main categories: accommodation of students' interests and abilities, financial assistance, and benefits, opportunities and treatment of student-athletes.
But it is not Title IX that has prompted Cornell's increased dedication to women's athletics, said M. Dianne Murphy, associate athletics director for sport programs and senior women's administrator. "Over the last three years," she said, "we've made a concerted effort to improve the quality of our women's athletics programs, because it is the right thing to do for our female student-athletes. This has meant an improvement in facilities, an increase in the number of participation opportunities for women athletes, an increase in recruiting and operating budgets, and an increase in coaches' salaries; I could go on and on."
Recent improvements have included:
Increased participation opportunities for women is a definite goal for Cornell, said Murphy. In 1992-93, there were 15 women's varsity sports, and 32 percent of all student-athletes were women. By 1996-97, there were 18 varsity sport programs for women, and the number of women student-athletes had risen to 37 percent. The target goal for female student-athletes in participation opportunities by the academic year 2000-01 is 42 percent, said Murphy.
"This hasn't happened by accident," Murphy said. "It has taken a lot of commitment and support. It happens because of the vision and leadership of President Hunter Rawlings, Vice President Susan Murphy, Athletics Director Charles Moore and his support staff and, obviously, all of our coaches and student-athletes."
The majority of steps toward gender equity taken by the Athletics Department in the past two years have involved increased compensation for coaches of women's sports teams. Paul Beckwith, head coach of women's gymnastics, is thankful for the elevation of Melanie Hall to full-time assistant coach of the gymnastics team, for instance.
"There are a lot more women's coaching positions now," Beckwith said, "Things are finally equaling out."
The gymnastics team also received a gift from the President's Council of Cornell Women enabling the construction of an entirely new, state-of-the-art training facility in Teagle gymnasium, which opened for use at the end of the team's 1996 season. The gift, which was earmarked specifically for women's athletics, was allocated to women's gymnastics by the Athletics Department.
"It showed their support and commitment for a sport that had just been reinstated only a few years earlier," Beckwith said.
And the gymnastics team's records have improved as a result of the new training facility and the increase in recruiting budgets, according to team member Rebecca Churchill '98. During the 1996 season, the team was 1-22, while in 1997, it ended 9-7 and sent team members to compete at the national level.
"The Athletics Department is committed to improving teams' records," Moore said. "First, we want all our student-athletes to have a positive, equitable sports experience. Secondly, we would like for them to be able to compete consistently in highly competitive varsity sports for Ivy League championships. For some teams, this will mean being able to compete at the national level.
"But while we've made an enormous amount of progress toward gender equity, we recognize that we have a lot more to do; and we will continue to make more of these improvements," Moore said. "We will continue to work on it."
Women's lacrosse player Marissa Perman '99 said her team faces problems, particularly in its travel budget: "We often have to play two games a weekend when we travel, as does women's field hockey, because that is what our budget can provide. Men's lacrosse does not play two games a weekend when they travel.
"In general, women's sports have not been around as long as the men's sports, and so we have less alumni support," Perman added. "Because of this, it is a good thing that the Athletics Department is showing more support and giving us more money."
"The Athletics Department, Charles Moore and Dianne Murphy, specifically, have been exceedingly supportive of women's softball in terms of budget, staff and equipment," said Dick Blood, head coach of women's softball.
The new women's swimming locker room was a much-needed addition for the swimming team, said head coach Pam Armold.
"It is definitely something the kids appreciate," she said. "It's a place to get together as a team before a meet; whereas before, there was no place that we could go that the other team did not have access to."
Rachel White '99, co-captain of the women's varsity crew team, agrees that there have been improvements. But, she said, "While we have gotten a few new pieces of equipment, that's fairly standard. Improvements such as a boat house of equal standing to the men's hasn't happened yet, although it is certainly being discussed. Also, the new strength and conditioning center has been a huge improvement for athletics as a whole."
The Barbara and Steven Friedman Strength and Conditioning Center in the Field House, which opened for use in June of this year and was dedicated during Homecoming Weekend, is cited by both men and women student-athletes as a great improvement for their programs.
The Athletics Department is continuing to take steps toward gender equity in its programs and facilities. Women student-athletes may or may not be entirely satisfied with the progress so far, but as Murphy said, "We are working extremely hard to improve, and we know we are headed in the right direction."