Publication Date
12-7-2022
Abstract
December 7, 2022
2022 marked the 50th anniversary of the passage of Title IX, a federal law that profoundly impacted and expanded educational and self-development opportunities for women and others. For example, over the past five decades, women's participation in collegiate sports rose from 29,977 to 215,486.
At ETSU, we have witnessed firsthand the potential for excellence this shift has unlocked. Our women's basketball team is off to one of its best starts in program history, recently upending Vanderbilt. This semester, our women's volleyball team defeated Clemson, another Power 5 program, and went on to claim the outright SoCon regular season championship. Coach Benavia Jenkins was named the 2022 SoCon Coach of the Year, and five volleyball players earned conference honors. In August, ETSU soccer player Shu Ohba helped lead the Japanese team to the finals in the 2022 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup. Last month, ETSU triathlete Abbey Church placed ninth in the nation at the Women's Collegiate Triathlon National Championship.
Buccaneer women also are leading off the field of play. Sixteen members of our women's athletics teams had a 4.0 GPA last year, and 106 made the SoCon Honor Roll. ETSU faculty member Meg Stone, Director of the Center of Excellence for Sport Science and Coach Education, was one of nine women highlighted in a national campaign recognizing women who have made significant impacts in the world of sport.
As a society, we still have a long way to go to level the playing field for all people, encourage inclusion, and ensure justice. However, we would be remiss if we did not take a moment to reflect upon and celebrate the tremendous achievements made during the first 50 years of Title IX. As we continue the winter sports season and plan for the spring, I urge all campus community members to help support, recognize, and elevate the success of both our women's and men's athletics programs. We have much to celebrate.
Sincerely,
Brian Noland
President
Document Type
News Article
