The Women’s Center will celebrate the 40th anniversary of Title IX this Friday with an open discussion by an eclectic panel of women.
The idea was that of Sue Ellen Miller, professor emerita at Ohio University, who collaborated with Susanne Dietzel, director of the Women’s Center.
“It’s an informative, hopefully interesting bunch of examples or scenarios to explain to people what it was like back in pre-Title IX days — and that could be things that had to do with money, field or gym space or equipment,” Miller said. “You were always working with men: men coaches and men athletic directors.”
The panel comprises Miller, Ellen Lawrence, Marilyn Shealy, Joyce King, Amy Dean and Peggy Pruitt, each of whom has been involved in Ohio Athletics at one point or another and volunteered their time for the panel, Dietzel said.
“I think we’re just going to talk about the past and perhaps also look to the future and assess what we still need to do to create equity and access,” Dietzel said.
Pruitt, the retired senior associate director of Athletics at O, was an integral force in incorporating Title IX at the university.
“I came to Ohio in 1975 as the coordinator of women’s Athletics,” she said. “Athletics for women had just been moved into the athletics department two years before that, so I was involved with Title IX at Ohio from the inception.”
Dietzel said the students of the current generation have been the beneficiaries of Title IX.
“All of the sports that you have access to, the ways in which your schools were really encouraged to provide equity even though it hasn’t been fully achieved (are results of Title IX),” she said. “But I mean, my goodness, the strides that have been made are really phenomenal.”
Pruitt and Dean will give perspectives from the administrative point of view and were invited to speak by Dietzel. Miller invited the other three women.
Pruitt and Dean will likely discuss what a regular day was like for them in the office and the changes that have occurred due to Title IX. The remaining panelists will share their personal experiences with Title IX.
“It’s going to be about the sharing of stories,” Dietzel said. “I’m excited about the conversation, and I’m excited to hear what the women have to say.”
je726810@ohiou.edu
