Outlook Magazine - Fall 2022

ON CAMPUS IX A CHAMPION FOR WOMEN Athletics’ efforts to level playing field for females, 50 years after passing of Title IX, lauded by national organization

“Equity is a priority for us and we continually monitor this, so it doesn’t surprise me that we’re doing well,” said Duey Naatz, athletic director. “We’re striving to improve the experience for all student athletes.” Title IX turned 50 on June 23, 2022. It prohibits education programs that receive federal funding from discrimination based on sex. The law set in motion, among other things, the expansion of women’s intercollegiate athletics, requiring equal treatment with regard to such things as participation levels, quality and use of facilities, budgeting, travel accommodations and more. In 2019-20, the most recent data used by Cham pionWomen, the percentage of females and males in athletics at UW-Stout was the same, 7.9%. A new women’s lacrosse team, the 11th women’s sport, is set to begin play in 2023. When Title IX passed, UW-Stout had three women’s teams. Five women’s teams were added between 1972 and 1995. To help mark the Title IX anniversary, the Blue Devils are planning special events at athletic contests throughout the 2022-23 academic year, Naatz said.

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n the 50th anniversary of the passing of Title IX, a national organization has cited UW-Stout’s efforts to provide equal treatment for female athletes. ChampionWomen reviewed Title IX federal reporting data from more than 2,000 colleges and universities in the U.S. that offer intercol legiate athletics and gave each school a pass or fail ranking. UW-Stout received a passing mark overall and in two key subcategories. UW-Stout was the only UWSystem university to pass the review and ranked in the top 10% nationally. ChampionWomen said that 90% of intercollegiate athletics departments still are not meeting the standards of Title IX.

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