The University Record, April 1, 1997
April 9 ‘Evenings at Rackham’ lecture explores women’s athletics
By Bernie DeGroat
News and Information Services
“Women and Sports: Lessons from the Playing Field” will explore the world of female athletics during the “Evenings at the Rackham” lecture series at 7 p.m. April 9 at Rackham Auditorium.
The discussion will examine the future of women’s involvement in sports and review the strides that have been made since the passage of Title IX, a 1972 federal law that prohibits gender discrimination in college athletics and other federally fund ed education programs.
“The existence of Title IX has made an enormous difference in the lives of girls and women educated after my generation—a difference that needs to be re cognized, understood and celebrated,” says Prof. Abigail J. Stewart, director of the Institute for Research on Women and Gender.
“I look forward to hearing more about the opportunities Title IX guaranteed, the problems it did not solve, and the work we need to do in the years ahead to ensure that the next generation doesn’t lose what has been gained, and continues to m ake progress in this domain.”
“Women and Sports” will feature a panel discussion by Donna Lopiano, executive director of the Women’s Sports Foundation and member of the National Softball Hall of Fame; Nancy Cantor, dean of the Rackham Graduate School and professor of psychology; Nancy Colasurdo, a Michigan Journalism Fellow and sports writer for the Times of Trenton (N.J.); and U-M alumna Tearza Johnson, a former All-Big Ten track star.
Elizabeth Hackett of the Women’s Studies Program will moderate. The event is sponsored by the Rackham Graduate School, Institute for Research on Women and Gender, and the Division of Kinesiology.
“Evenings at the Rackham” is a series of lectures, discussions or performances on wide-ranging topics of scholarly or cultural interest. For more information, contact Vi Benner at 647-4566 or [email protected].
