John writes:
>In it's infinite wisdom, the Big Ten Athletic Conference is considering
>passing a resolution calling for 40% of each school's varsity athletes
>to be female.  This may have little or no effect on the hockey programs
>(Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State), but still...why?
 
	Why?  Because it's the law.  Perhaps you have heard of
	Title IX which guarantees equal opportunity for both sexes
	in education.  And yes it is meant to apply to
	athletics also.
 
 
Ross writes:
>when has a mindlessly arbitrary quota ever been a good thing?  each school
>ought to find out how many of its students are interested in and can compete at
>the level of "varsity athletics" and establish programs accordingly.  if 40%
>are women, fine.  If 15% or 80% are women, that's fine too.
>
>if a school predetermines a ratio among athletes and then struggles to fill it
>with anyone it finds waltzing into Psych 101, then it`s helping nobody.
 
	Do you really think that at any Big Ten school they can't find
	enough female athletes?  Oink Oink.  :-) :-)
	To answer your question about quotas, they possibly are a bad thing,
	but athletic departments have systematically marginalized
	women's athletics for a long time.  Title IX was passed during
	the Nixon administration.  Since then women's athletic programs have
	made great strides in levels of competition and participation
	but are by no means equal to men's programs.  Athletic directors
	continue to drag their feet unless they are pushed by specific
	guidelines which it seems the Big Ten is finally getting around
	to doing.
 
 
Mark
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"It's educational" -- The Pixies