January 20, 2004

'Father' Of Title IX Honored

Former U.S. Sen. Birch Bayh of Indiana, considered the "father" of Title IX, the landmark federal legislation created more than 30 years ago that greatly expanded educational and athletics opportunities for girls and women, was honored during half-time of the women's basketball game between UConn and Rutgers on Martin Luther King Day.

Former U.S. Senator Birch Bayh

"Thanks to Title IX, women have taken their rightful place in American education - as students, teachers, administrators, and athletes," said U.S. Sen. Christopher R. Dodd, in joining University President Philip Austin to present the award. "Sen. Bayh's leadership as original author of this legislation has directly impacted the millions of young women whose lives have been touched and bettered through equality in education, collegiate athletics, and opportunities for success in virtually every aspect of American life."

Although UConn began admitting women in 1893, many publicly funded universities did not admit women, and many women who did enter universities were discouraged from studying math, science, law, or medicine, before Title IX became law in 1972, Dodd said. Perhaps the most profound change came in the area of athletics, however; and participation by women in virtually every sport has boomed since passage of the act.

"Title IX represented a major advance not just for women, but for all Americans and for higher education," said University President Philip E. Austin. "I'm proud that UConn has a long and worthy tradition in making a university education accessible to women, and I'm especially proud of our efforts to encourage women to pursue their aspirations in fields in which they have been historically underrepresented.

"And of course, the success of our women's sports programs and what that means for all the people of Connecticut speaks for itself," Austin added.

Sen. Bayh also played a leadership role in many other areas and in framing two Constitutional amendments: the 26th Amendment, which lowered the legal voting age to 18, and the Equal Rights Amendment, a proposed Constitutional amendment guaranteeing equal rights to women, which has been ratified by 35 states, including Connecticut.

Bayh, who also served in the Indiana House of Representatives, represented Indiana in the U.S. Senate from 1963 to 1981.