FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Gita Brown, 401-456-8465, gbrown@ric.edu
Laura Hart, 401-456-8977, lhart@ric.edu
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – In celebration of National Girls and Women in Sports Day, Rhode Island College will present a panel discussion, “Quicken the Pace: Expanding the Opportunities for Women in Sports,” on Wednesday, Feb. 3, from 12:30-1:45 p.m. in Alger Hall 110.
This event is one of more than 1,000 events taking place across the country “to acknowledge the accomplishments of female athletes, the positive influence of sports participation and the continuing struggle for equality for women in sports.”
Panelists are former hockey coach Jackie Barto, former baseball player Wilma Briggs, former basketball player Jo-Ann D’Alessandro, former multisport athlete Gail Davis and former basketball coach Cindy Neal.
The discussion opens with commentary on how Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 has significantly expanded opportunities for women to participate in sports.
The amendment states in part, that: “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any educational program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.”
Panelists discuss their pre-Title IX and post-Title IX experiences and how they overcame barriers that prevented them from competing in scholastic and intercollegiate athletics.
Jackie Barto was the first women’s ice hockey coach for The Ohio State University; a gold-medal-winning coach for the U.S. Women’s National Hockey Team at the 2008 International Ice Hockey Federation’s World Women’s Championship; and field hockey, ice hockey and softball head coach for Providence College.
Wilma Briggs played for the Fort Wayne Daisies in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League and was a consultant on the film “A League of Their Own.”
Jo-Ann D’Alessandro (Class of 1988) played for RIC’s women’s basketball team and is RIC associate director of athletics.
Gail Davis (Class of 1960) was women’s softball, basketball and volleyball coach, and former coordinator of the RIC Student-Athletic Support and Community Involvement program.
Cindy Neal was basketball coach and referee and is currently Bay View Academy athletic director as well as director of girls basketball for the Rhode Island Interscholastic League for Girls Basketball.
Moderators are RIC Professor of History Robert Cvornyek and RIC Associate Professor of Physical Education Robin Kirkwood Auld.
“The implementation of Title IX moves beyond sports and serves as a watershed event in American political and social history,” said Cvornyek. “The Act reinforces the idea that sports often takes the lead in addressing issues of inequality; in this case, gender inequality. The full promise of Title IX has yet to be realized, so the struggle continues in areas beyond athletic participation and into positions of power and influence in the sports world. Strict compliance is not enough, there is a need to expand opportunities, insure pay equity and access to positions traditionally held by men.”
Kirkwood Auld will join the panel to discuss the disparities that still exist in women’s sports, such as the lack of post-career employment opportunities in high-powered, sports-related professions.
“The playing opportunities for girls and women have become much more equivalent to those for men since the inception of Title IX,” said Auld. “However, it continues to be less common to see women attain positions of power, after their playing days are over, in sports-related fields such as coaching at the college or professional level, media/communications and administrative positions within sports organizations.”
For more information, contact Robert Cvornyek at rcvornyek@ric.edu, or Robin Kirkwood Auld at rauld@ric.edu, or click here.
Established in 1854, Rhode Island College serves approximately 9,000 undergraduate and graduate students through its five schools: the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, the Feinstein School of Education and Human Development, the School of Social Work, the School of Management and the School of Nursing. For more information, visit www.ric.edu.
Rhode Island College is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III and a charter member of the Little East Conference. The College sponsors 21 varsity sports: men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s golf, women's lacrosse, men’s and women’s indoor track, men’s and women’s tennis, men’s and women’s outdoor track, men’s and women’s cross country, women’s swimming, women’s volleyball, women’s gymnastics, men’s wrestling, men’s baseball and women’s softball.
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