By ADAM WHITTEN
adam@du2.byu.edu
The balance for NCAA sanctioned athletic teams at BYU sits uneven, as men's sports now outnumber women's sports 12 to 10.
In 1972, Congress enacted the Title IX of Educational Amendments, which was intended to prohibit sex discrimination in educational programs or activities at institutions that received any type of federal assistance. Schools were given six years to comply.
Unlike many schools, BYU responded immediately, adding nine of its 10 women's sports within the six year limit, said R.J. Snow, former BYU advancement vice-president. Only women's soccer in 1993, however, has been added as an NCAA sanctioned sport since, he said. Today, BYU continues to seek asylum from the grips of Title IX.
The issues surrounding Title IX are dynamic and cannot be solved simply by adding a sport here or there, Snow said. Since BYU is below government standards on the women's side of the ledger, it must search for possible solutions to meet Title IX's requirements. Yet as of now, the process towards ultimate equality is slow and frustrating for both athletes and administrators. Snow said a quick solution to the problem is not a possible, and could take quite some time to resolve.
The Office of Civil Rights monitors BYU's compliance to Title IX. Snow said there are specific criteria the OCR uses to determine if a school is complying with all its demands. A school must meet one of the requirements established to avoid penalty.
BYU avoids OCR sanctions because it is meeting the interests and ability of the student body, Snow said. He said BYU also dodges penalties because it is seeking to find more opportunities for women to play sports. Snow said the athletic department and administration are considering adding softball and/or water polo to the list of NCAA sanctioned women's sports.
BYU does not meet other guidelines stipulating that the opportunity of participating in athletics given to men and women be proportional to the student body population. As of 1997, BYU's student body consists of 48 percent men and 52 percent women. Needless to say, the football team's 85-scholarship allotment makes this demand impossible to meet, Snow said.
Across the country, schools have been eliminating men's sports instead of adding women's sports to comply with Title IX, said Elaine Michaelis, BYU's women's athletic director. Most schools have cut men's gymnastics and wrestling from their programs to meet Title IX's regulations.
'I don't think that makes more opportunities for women by cutting men's sports,' Michaelis said. 'I don't think that's the purpose of Title IX. That's not a good approach.'
Michaelis said BYU has done well with Title IX's 'laundry list.' That list includes ensuring equality in the caliber of locker room facilities, storage capabilities and playing fields. The number of opportunities, however, is where BYU still needs improvement, Michaelis said.
One answer for BYU would be to add women's softball. BYU has had a extramural softball team in place since 1980, and nine WAC schools now have softball teams in place.
Both players and parents said they have heard the rumors about adding the sport but nothing has been done.
Cathy Ellsworth, mother of BYU second baseman Erin Ellsworth, said the softball team has good players who deserve the chance to play for a NCAA sanctioned team. She said the players are a little discouraged by the slow process.
'We heard that it was a possibility when (Erin) first came here,' Cathy Ellsworth said. 'Then last season we heard that probably within a year or two it would be sanctioned.'
BYU third baseman Sunshine Vanwie watched her two older sisters play for BYU at the extramural level. She said both were told softball would become a sanctioned sport.
'My oldest sister was a freshman in 1987, so it's been 11 years,' Vanwie said. 'Even back then (the administration) was talking about going to Division I. They always talked about it, but it was never a consideration.
'Then my second sister came here and they said the same thing, and even when I came here. So my parents have kind of given up on the hope it might go.'
BYU coach Tammy Strunk said the team would play tougher competition, but it would provide an opportunity for both the university and the women.
'I think it would be really good for the team and for a lot of the girls, especially LDS girls, to have the chance to come here to BYU and be able to play sanctioned softball,' Strunk said.
For a team to be added as a sanctioned sport, it must pass through a tedious process, Snow said. First, there is a survey conducted to show if an interest exists among the student body to support the new sport. In 1993, women's soccer had substantial support according to the survey, while softball did not. Although those figures rose in a 1996 survey, it was still not enough to warrant BYU sponsorship.
Next, it must be shown that there is a significant 'feeder' pool existing in the area of the university. For softball, Snow said most area high school teams have players with high talent levels and ability.
There also must be schools close to the university participating. The University of Utah has a softball team in place, along with eight other WAC schools. Snow said this has been a great help to the softball team's cause.
Thus, it seems the only thing stopping BYU's jump into the softball world is money. Snow said finding money for the number of scholarships softball requires is just one area where finances are needed.
He pointed out travel expenses would be high because of a 40-plus game schedule consisting of a high majority of away games due to Utah's climate. He also said the season would span both winter semester and spring term, so that would complicate the scholarship situation even more. Additionally, new facilities would be needed to compete at a Division I level.
'There are more institutions competing in softball, but the expense (of sponsoring softball) would be enormous,' Snow said. 'I estimate it would probably be the most expensive women's sport here.
'All I know is the decision is on hold. I don't know how (the administration) will move on it.'
Michaelis said if softball was added, the administration would follow the pattern it used when adding soccer. She said the administration would follow a three year program, starting at a lower level and eventually increasing scholarships and competition levels until a full program was in place.
Snow said softball was ready to be added until BYU experienced a change in both its presidency and athletic directors. For now, BYU administrators are continuing to gather information and Snow said the earliest a decision could be made is 1999.
Softball is not the only sport caught in Title IX's web of confusion. Men's soccer, also an extramural sport, receives more fan support than any other club sport at BYU, Snow said.
Head coach Chris Watkins said though his team plays several Division I schools each year, it is frustrating for the players and coaches to be delegated to club status. He said the amount of work and energy his players put into the sport rival that of any other athlete at BYU.
Watkins said football's stronghold on men's athletic scholarships means it will be nearly impossible for another men's sport to be added to BYU's department. He said placing football in a category of its own could be a possible solution, but scholarship reduction with football could accomplish the same thing.
'It seems funny to me that they have 85 scholarships but only have 11 players playing on the field,' Watkins said. 'A reduction in their scholarships would help us drastically, but that's not a realistic expectation.'
Until a solution is found, Watkins hopes to continue attracting the best LDS athletes available whose love for the game outweigh the lack of financial support. He said all six of next year's incoming freshmen were offered scholarships to play at other schools.