By Christiana Paradis (she/her), Director of Title IX Compliance
“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.” — Title IX Education Amendment of 1972
June 23 marked the 50th anniversary that those 37 words forever changed the landscape of education systems across the United States. Building upon the language and momentum of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, representatives Edith Green, Shirley Chisholm, the first Black U.S. congresswoman, and Patsy T. Mink, the first woman of color elected to Congress, collaborated on the authorship of Title IX, one of several education amendments passed in 1972.
Shortly after its passing, Susquehanna University moved quickly to comply when President Gustave Weber appointed a seven-member task force, the Committee to Review Compliance with Title IX, and charged it to audit athletics, instructional affairs, employment, personnel policies and student affairs.
Over the last 50 years this legislation has resulted in sweeping changes across the country from admissions standards to educational responses to sexual harassment. It has also expanded educational access, funding resources, and athletic opportunities for students of all genders.
Below are a few notable changes across the country, as well as here at Susquehanna:
| Susquehanna University | Nationally |
| 1960–1961 marked the first intercollegiate schedule for two women’s sports teams: field hockey and basketball. Today, SU hosts 12 women’s/co-ed sports teams. | The number of female college athletes has grown from 30,000 to 150,000. Additionally, men’s athletic participation has continued to grow. |
| Susquehanna became coeducational in 1873, sooner than many of its peers. Today, 56% of students enrolled at Susquehanna are women. | In 1950, only 25% of undergraduate students were women. Today, women make up most enrolled college students. |
| Susquehanna’s core academic program in 1970 was geared towards the “man’s total experience.” Now, 60% of student enrolled in our science programs are women. | Universities could bar women and men from certain fields of study based solely on their gender. This segregation is now illegal. |
| In the 1970s, the Association of Women Students offered information pamphlets for survivors of violence to seek local support and resources. In 2018, we opened the Violence Intervention and Prevention and now have a full-time staff person in the Title IX Office. | In 1997, the first guidance about sexual harassment was released, but it wasn’t until 2011 that the Education Department provided specific guidance as well as consequences for not addressing sexual harassment that occurs within education systems. |
Want to learn more about the legacy of Title IX and its impact on education and career opportunities? The Title IX Office is hosting a 50th Title IX Celebration Event on Deg Lawn September 27 from 11a.m.-1:30p.m. Stop by for snacks, giveaways, and interactive games to learn more about the history of Title IX.
You can also continue to follow this column biweekly as we continue to unpack a variety of topics pertaining to Title IX. If you would like to submit a question to be addressed in future columns, please submit it here (hyperlink: https://forms.office.com/r/uLwmb14Evm).