Daily Egyptian
News that construction for the renovated softball facility is expected to begin this week seems ironic given that Sunday marked the 30th Anniversary of Title IX, the landmark 1972 law that banned gender discrimination.
Three decades and a lot of progress later, it's apparent the fight for gender equality isn't over.
It is unfortunate that it took a Title IX complaint filed against SIU in September 2000 to motivate University officials to commit to building a softball field with at least the essential - restrooms - and the other luxuries provided to the men's team - locker rooms and a clubhouse.
It's about time.
It's also time to put the means to the end behind us, because soon the result will be a well-equipped softball facility with seating for 500 people, lights, a concession stand, a pressroom, storage and a locker room with showering facilities.
The women's softball team has produced consistently on the diamond as well as academically, and the new softball complex, equal to that of the men's baseball team, is a long-overdue addition to University athletics.
For a softball team that has managed to recruit outstanding athletes with so little, the new facility will be very attractive to top-notch prospective recruits and give SIUC a competitive edge.
The facility will likely be completed by the end of the calendar year, according to Athletic Director Paul Kowalczyk, and the team will officially break in the dirt at their first home game against Syracuse on Feb. 28.
Whatever the outcome of the game, it will be one more run in the 30-year history of Title IX and a grand-slam for the movement toward gender equality.
Published on 11/17/05; 12:24:44 PM
