Leigh Torbin answered a question of mine and suggested it might be good for the entire list, so here it is. - mike ===== begin forwarded message ===== Date: Wed, 12 Apr 1995 01:48:48 -0400 (EDT) From: Leigh Torbin <[log in to unmask]> Subject: Re: More Title IX In-Reply-To: <[log in to unmask]> from "Mike Machnik" at Apr 12, 95 01:16:56 am To: [log in to unmask] (Mike Machnik) Mime-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: ELM [version 2.4 PL22] Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Length: 2366 > What happens in the following situation: > > * State U has a ratio of 50% male, 50% female > * Athletic participation/opportunities are 60% male, 40% female > * A State U poll shows that of all students interested in > participating in sports, 60% are male and 40% are female > > Is State U in compliance? Yes, for now. Although they would pass a test because they have satisfied their female athletic interests, there is something that always makes public opinion polls so much fun at work here. That being that public opinion sway like the wind. Case Study No. 1: Suppose the numbers above are for UConn and compare the interest amongst UConn women last year and today. While 40% might have been interested in athletics last year, that number might have skyrocketed well past 60 or 65% due to Ms. Lobo and company. The barometer of public opinion can change very quickly and drastically. If UConn put all their eggs into the basket above, they would be unhappy campers Sunday morning. Suddenly with 65% of their women interested and 40% still as the opportunity % for athletes, they're locked out. The reason that student body is a better marker is that it doesn't shift as drasticly from year to year. Maybe the admissions office might let in a few more men or women one given year, but it won't change things too much. Certainly not enough to effect the school's Title IX standing. Figuring that the student body will be close to 50/50 gives the AD somthing to use as a measuring stick for the percentage of athletes. While public opinion might justify one given year, it could bring you down the next, and thus is a less accurate barometer, unless you feel like adding/cutting a dozen sports a year and then cutting/reinstating them the next. Leigh Mike-feel free to send this to the list as well, I can't figure out how to go back now and change the outgoing address. It's a great question. ===== end forwarded message ===== --- --- Mike Machnik [log in to unmask] Cabletron Systems, Inc. *HMM* 11/13/93