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By the way Ali, would you mind posting this feedback on my blog "Game On! Sports Girl Talk" at www.g...more
posted 01/06/11 at 10:48pm
on Girls Sports � The Thrill of Field Hockey
Thanks for our new gym, Title IX!
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posted by Title IX Blog An interdisciplinary resource for news, legal developments, commentary, and scholarship about Title IX, the federal statute prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sex in federally funded schools. |
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I came across this article about the debut of a new gym at Lake Shore High School in Michigan. The new gym was added, according to the article, "because a Title IX legislation ruling that stated boys and girls seasons must be at the same time."
This made me pause. I didn't remember anything about Lake Shore High School.
But I went on to read about the great new gym that includes a commons area for concessions, where the game inside the gym can be simulcast, an NBA-sized court (which will make the school a prime site for post-season and tournament play), and a more secure entrance to the school. Sounds like some great improvements.
And no one has to practice at 10pm.
Then I remembered which "Title IX legislation ruling" the article was referring to: the very contentious--and very expensive--lawsuit against the Michigan State High School Athletic Association. So many people just refused to give any ground about--among other things--ensuring that girls played their sports in the traditional seasons. Costs, logistics, tradition, etc., etc.
Lake Shore High School clearly was one of the schools affected by the mandate to move girls sports to their traditional seasons. And now they have a new facility.
So in case no one else says it: Thank you, Title IX, for the sparkly new gym in Michigan with its indoor track, student store, and concession stand. We wouldn't have done it without you!
View Original Post at title-ix.blogspot.com | View EBuz's Full Profile
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- Filed Under:
- SportsPLUS, Discrimination/Title IX
There is 1 comment on this post. Join the discussion!
Ms. Buzuvis - I've been reading you and Ms. Newhall's blog for some time now and I've got to thank you for doing such a fine job of compiling the real world impact of various Title IX rulings. It certainly saves time for those of us that follow Title IX.
It seems in this case you missed several important impacts of the true outcome of the situation in Michigan. Let me help you expand so the readers here can get a bit more balanced view of the outcome of this complaint that started out with two families getting angry about the time of year that girls high school volleyball and basketball were played.
- Judgement against the MMSAA in the amount of $7.4 million dollars. This is in addition to the $10 million dollars in litigation expense to defend the lawsuit. These have effectively bankrupted the non-profit MMSAA. Clearly an accomplishment you should be proud of.
- As the attached article notes it cost the school district involved $9.7 million dollars to comply with the judgement. Considering this was only a single Michigan school district it's safe to assume that the cumulative cost to Michigan school systems will be well over $100 million dollars. I'm sure the taxpayers of Michigan are appreciative of this outcome, after all none of the girls benefiting from this lawsuit have parents that pay taxes in Michigan, right?
But I have to say that the most disgusting aspect of this entire cluster is the fact that Kristin Galles, the attorney for the complainants received a check for something in excess of $4 million dollars for her efforts. A tidy payday by any measure. In spite of this she shared this quote with ESPN back in 2008 concerning the MMSAA "They are lucky parents and kids didn't seek monetary damages. The bills could have been significantly higher". Pretty impressive. Fortunately for Ms. Galles since she is from the Washington D.C. area she won't have to spend any of her windfall on anything this mundane.
I would hope that some women's sports fans reading this blog are perceptive enough to recognize what is going on and understand the ramifications of what has been described above. I guarantee that this case alone is outrageous enough to provide a foundation for a serious run at having Title IX repealed or significantly changed. Unfortunately attorneys being what they are, now that they know there might be a $4 million dollar payday in their future they're lining up to play this litigation game.
Saturday, December 25, 2010 at 9:33am EST