NCAA still has miles to go toward equality

Jean Hammill Apr. 5, 2021 6:40 pm Updated: Apr. 5, 2021 6:40 pm

It is interesting to read about the gaffe by the NCAA regarding the women's basketball tournament's facilities and fitness equipment. Disparity continues to exist.

To give some history, in the late 1960s the opportunity for women in sport at the University of Iowa was slowly moving from an intramural participation level to an extramural program and then to an interscholastic program in 1967. By 1969 the U of I fielded a women's basketball team that played nine games against teams such as Luther, Iowa Wesleyan, Wheaton College in Illinois and others. As a member of this team, I traveled by U of I van to games paid for from the physical education department funds. Team members paid for their own meals, washed their own uniforms and only stayed overnight for one game - at Wheaton College in campus dorm rooms.

That winter the U of I women's team was invited to the first national tournament in West Chester, PA. The men's team that year did not get a bid to the NCAA tournament, so our team was able to 'borrow” the men's warm up jackets. Our point guard was 5'2” tall. Her jacket came down below her knees! However ill fitting they were, we were thrilled to wear the jackets because they identified who we were - the Iowa Hawkeyes!

Equality for women in sport has come a long way in 52 years. With the recent gaff by the NCAA, there appears to be miles to go.

Jean Hammill

Marion