SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- The Summit League is excited to join the NCAA and its member institutions in a celebration of the 50th anniversary of Title IX, the landmark federal law signed in 1972 that has provided education and athletic opportunities for women since its inception.
"It's quite remarkable, and somewhat unbelievable today, that it took a law passed in 1972, which made no reference to sports, to address inherent inequalities within our intercollegiate environment," Summit League Commissioner Josh Fenton said. "Title IX has had such a large, positive impact, particulary for so many deserving female athletes over the past five decades.
"The Summit League was founded 40 years ago and the impact Title IX has had on our conference is immeasurable. Never has there been a law with a more positive impact on the industries of higher education and collegiate sports as Title IX. I'm a big believer in enhancing the experiences and opportunities for all student-athletes, but particulary those that are grounded in equality and inclusivity like the genesis of Title IX."
Today's current Summit League female student-athletes are taking advantage of those opportunities that, from a league historical context, date back to the 1992-93 academic year when women's sports were added to the conference. This occurred when the league, known as the Mid-Continent Conference at the time, absorbed a women's-only league called the North Star Conference. The NSC's final seven members were already competing in men's sports in the Mid-Con and joined along with women's programs from Eastern Illinois, Milwaukee and Western Illinois to give the league 10 members that would be sponsoring female sports.
Milwaukee's 1992 cross country team would win the first of 282 Summit League women's team championships that have been awarded across 10 sports over the past 30 seasons. Cross country, volleyball, basketball, swimming and diving, tennis and softball were the initial female sports sponsored by the league during that first season and women's soccer, indoor and outdoor track and field and golf have since been added to its list of sponsored sports.
Summit League deputy commissioner Myndee Kay Larsen was one of the league's female student-athletes to take advantage of those opportunities provided to her through this law, excelling as a basketball player at Southern Utah from 1994-98 before embarking on a successful and impactful career in collegiate athletics that has spanned more than 20 years.
Larsen, who was an All-Mid Continent First Team selection as a senior for the Thunderbirds and is wrapping up her 16th season working with the league, is spearheading the commemoration of Title IX that will span throughout the upcoming 2022-23 academic year. "As a direct beneficiary of this legislation, I am thrilled to have an opportunity to work with our female administrators and student-athletes to showcase the impact Title IX has had in college athletics and The Summit League," Larsen said. "We have a variety of special projects in the works to recognize our unsung heroes of Title IX as well as educate student-athletes on the law’s powerful role in providing platforms for women to compete."
Some of those special projects include a video series centered around each of the league's 10 female championships, taking a closer look at the past, present and future of those impacted by Title IX. The Summit League is also thrilled to announce a partnership with
Fanword, an athlete storytelling and branding company, to collaborate on a 10-part series that will feature pioneers and benefactors of Title IX from each of our 10 current members that will be distributed monthly starting in August.
Also, be sure to check out the Summit League's twitter account (@TheSummitLeague) throughout June 23rd as the league begins its celebration by showcasing nine of the countless impactful facts and moments that taken place because of the incredible Summit League student-athletes and administrators that have helped change the history of women's sports.
Here is a rundown of those nine facts and figures that will be featured on Twitter throughout the day starting at 9:09 a.m. CT.
Because of Title IX ...
- 9:09 a.m. | More than 175 Summit League female student-athletes have garnered All-American honors across our 10 sports.
- 10:09 a.m. | More than 100 Summit League female student-athletes have garnered Academic All-American honors across our 10 sports.
- 11:09 a.m. | 15 former Summit League female student-athletes have competed in the Olympics and Paralympic Games.
- 12:09 p.m. | During the 2018-19 academic year, the Summit League had two volleyball and two women's basketball teams qualify for the NCAA Tournament for the first time in league history
- 1:09 p.m. | Three North Dakota State Bison have won the NCAA Elite 90 Award given annually to the student-athlete with the highest GPA competing at their respective NCAA Championship
- 2:09 p.m. | Former Summit League student-athletes Chen Ni of IUPUI (diving) and Bethany (Buell) Firsick of South Dakota (outdoor track and field) won individual NCAA national championships.
- 3:09 p.m. | North Dakota State's Amy (Anderson) Olson holds the NCAA women's golf record for most individual tournament titles won during a career with 20.
- 4:09 p.m. | The South Dakota and South Dakota State women's basketball teams have advanced to the Sweet 16 and each won a Women's National Invitational Tournament title.
- 5:09 p.m. | During the 1992-93 academic year, the Mid-Continent Conference crowned its first champions in the female sports of cross country, volleyball, basketball, tennis, swimming and diving and softball.
What is Title IX?
Title IX is a federal law that was passed as part of the Education Amendments of 1972. It states, "No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance."
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