Today, June 23, 2022, marks the 50th anniversary of the enactment of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the landmark civil rights law that explicitly prohibits discrimination based on sex, gender identity and/or sexual orientation, including but not limited to: pregnancy-related discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual assault, domestic and dating violence, and harassment in all activities and all programs at educational institutions receiving federal funding, including the U of A.
It states: “No person in the United States shall, because of sex, be excluded from participation, denied benefits, or discriminated against in connection with any program or activity. education with federal financial assistance.”
Although originally written to challenge the status quo and prevent discrimination in collegiate athletics, Title IX has evolved into a broad prohibition applicable to all aspects of institutional programs. Often referred to as “37 Words That Changed Everything”, Title IX has fundamentally changed the way higher education institutions respond to reports within their respective educational programs and activities and ensures that active measures of education, awareness and prevention are taken.
On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Title IX, the Office of Title IX welcomed and encouraged the participation of the campus community in its presentation of the “Thirty-seven Word Campaign”. Below are some of the responses received from the campus community when asked to express what Title IX means to you in thirty-seven words or less.
Answers
Shanita L. Pettaway
Director of Title IX Compliance and Title IX Coordinator
JFair and informed implementation by rauma of support measures
IInnovative and ingenious awareness campaigns
JCampus Outreach Initiatives
LLeading Courageous Conversations and Amplifying Campus Voices
EEducation and training events
IInstitutional compliance initiatives
XVigorous and unwavering effort to engage the campus community
Shanita L. Pettaway
Director of Title IX Compliance and Title IX Coordinator
“Title IX – to comply or not to comply? That’s not the question. It’s not about whether to comply, but rather how to comply – championing Title IX compliance in all institutional programmatic aspects.”
Allen Porter
Awareness and involvement in the Corporal community
University of Arkansas Police Department
“Title IX is, to me, a federal program that extends protection to students, faculty, and staff on a college or university campus from discrimination based on sexual misconduct. This law holds individuals accountable to maintain an educational and work environment free from hostility.
Alli Johnson
Hosting Specialist
“Title IX creates a safe and inclusive environment for all gender identities and sexual orientations through their advocacy and justice actions.”
Carla Martin
Institutional Research Analyst and Workday Student Reports Manager
“Title IX means I played on the very first women’s basketball team at my high school in the 1970s – and we were able to practice in the gym for alternate weeks instead of just on the asphalt court. “
Jonathan Degan
Equal Opportunity and Title IX Investigator
“Title IX, to me, means that our society has recognized that gender discrimination in education must be taken seriously and addressed by offering support to both parties and ensuring that there are consequences for those responsible.
Derita Renee-Ratcliffe Dawkins
assistant director of athletics
“Title IX signified the promise of a more equitable future in educational settings. It has not yet been fully realized, but there is still hope. We must remain committed to fulfilling the promise – act NOW! “
Captain Gary W. Crain
University of Alberta Police Service
“Title IX – changing hearts and minds (or significantly, actions and opportunities) from long past dominions to present and future equitable considerations by breaking down barriers for human beings with a history of omission, d oppression and contempt.”
Suzanne Neyman
Former student ’94,’95,’03
“Discrimination is ‘unfair treatment based on categories of people, such as race, gender, age or sexual orientation.’ Unfortunately, humanity needs a legal construct to define unjust behavior.Since humans need clear parameters, Title IX comes to the rescue.
Jamie Thayer
Equal Opportunity and Title IX Investigator
wayne bell
Equal Opportunity and Title IX Case Manager
“Title IX represents to me the best effort for equality in academic settings like the University of Arkansas. It provides protections and a response that affect everyone on this campus, from students to faculty to the personal.”
Anonymous author
“To me, Title IX represents an important step toward equality and safety for women in the educational environment.”
About the U of A Title IX Desk: The U of A Title IX Office oversees the university’s compliance with Title IX Education Amendments of 1972, working with university administration, departments, students, faculty, staff , campus policing, and other support services to ensure that university policies and programs promote a campus community free from unlawful gender discrimination and sexual violence.
