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Title IX News

Title IX Became Law 50 Years Ago. Why It Still Matters In 2022.

July 5, 2022 By Texas A&M Title IX

Texas A&M faculty and staff reflect on the landmark legislation.

50 years of Title IX logo

When Elizabeth Cobbs was a child in the early 1960s, girls generally didn’t play sports. Most of the all-male teams didn’t allow it. The feeling of being second-class, she remembers, was bred into the system – “nobody thought of it as a problem,” she said.

At the time, there were distinctions between girls and boys that had always seemed natural. Cobbs, a Texas A&M University professor and the Melbern G. Glasscock Chair in American History, said it wasn’t until the late 1960s and 1970s that these ideas were challenged.

“Suddenly, people as a generation led by feminists began to say, ‘What if boys and girls could do a lot of the same things? In fact, most things? What if we just assume that everyone has an equal opportunity with everything?’” said Cobbs. “That was the period called second-wave feminism. People discovered that all these wonderful things we celebrate as a society, like sports, women could participate in, too.”

It was during this period 50 years ago that Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 was signed into law as an update to the Civil Rights Act that passed eight years earlier. It forbid discrimination based on sex in education. Immediately, the idea that women and men be given equal opportunities was most clearly manifested in sports, Cobbs said.

“There was such a dramatic representation of it in sports, because the disparities were so large and so apparent,” Cobbs said.

Notably, Title IX is commonly misunderstood as an athletics-related law. In actuality, said Meg Penrose, a professor at the Texas A&M School of Law, Title IX was passed by Congress to ensure gender equity in all educational programs and activities in schools that receive federal funding.

The statute itself is just one sentence long, consisting of 37 words: “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.”

Assistant Vice President & Title IX Coordinator Jennifer Smith said the anti-discrimination law is widely considered the most successful civil rights law due to its impact on women’s athletics.

“We went from women being 15% of collegiate athletes in 1972 to more than 44% of collegiate athletes today,” she said. “This change would not have come about without Title IX.”

But the landmark legislation reaches far beyond athletics: It touches admissions, financial aid, disciplinary processes, housing and more. Smith notes the law also protects against all forms of sex-based discrimination and harassment.

“Because of Title IX, today’s students find it difficult to imagine a world where they would be excluded from an opportunity because of their sex, and these expectations for equitable treatment have spilled over into society,” she said. “So in an indirect way, Title IX has fueled important cultural changes, including movement toward equal pay and equitable representation in high-level corporate positions.”

Despite decades of challenges from lawmakers and in courts to nullify its requirements, Smith said, Title IX has “endured and ensured that all students have equal opportunities to get their education.”

The law’s footprint has also expanded since its passage on June 23, 1972, Penrose said.

Because the law is enforced by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights, the robustness of its protections – and the breadth of its interpretation – can change between presidential administrations.

Penrose, an expert in constitutional law, has written about the importance of Title IX’s role in gender equity for women and men, and has performed audits and represented students, educators and coaches as clients in this area. She also has a personal connection to the law.

“I received an athletic scholarship to play Division 1 athletics. So did my younger sister,” Penrose said. “This funding parity, providing athletic scholarships to women, is a direct result of Title IX. I am quite fortunate to have directly benefitted from Title IX.”

So while extracurriculars like sports weren’t at the center of the single-sentence law, they’ve become a significant symbol of the fight for equal opportunities. Cobbs notes that before Title IX, only one in 27 girls in the United States played sports. By 2016, that number had grown to one in five.

This is part of what made Title IX so transformative, Cobbs said.

“Sports teach some of life’s biggest lessons: how to compete fairly, how to lose gracefully, how to win honestly. These are values that sports inculcates,” she said. “You can’t write half of humanity out of the picture and think you’re getting humanity’s full strength.”

Cobbs said it’s also a reminder of the rights women may take for granted, like the right to learn. In this sense, she said, Title IX has roots back to the 1700s, when former First Lady Abigail Adams was one of the first advocates for formal education for women.

Cobbs also notes that women from all backgrounds played a role in shepherding Title IX through Congress. It was championed by former representative Patsy Mink (D-Hawaii), the first woman of color elected to Congress.  And Carol Mosely Braun, the first Black female senator, further advanced the law by pushing for legislation that required schools to report how they comply with Title IX.

Fifty years later, the advancements made by Title IX remain worth celebrating because of the previous 2,000 years that precede it, Cobbs said. With thousands of years of history weighing against the present, she said, it’s easy for society to slip backward.

“Laws are great because they express a society’s ideal,” she said. “The idea that you give people equal opportunities is important. We have to remember that there’s still that old history that shapes our way of thinking. Having laws that say today, we’re doing things this way, is invaluable.”

See original article at https://today.tamu.edu/2022/06/23/title-ix-became-law-50-years-ago-why-it-still-matters-in-2022/?utm_source=today_newsletter&utm_medium=today_email&utm_campaign=today_06-24-2022

Filed Under: Title IX News

Aggie Band’s First Female Bass Drummer Talks About Demands, Honor Of The Job

October 22, 2021 By Texas A&M Title IX

Junior cadet Amanda Lovitt says she enjoys the opportunity to inspire other young women to achieve their goals.

Interview with Amanda Lovitt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BcAhldW3rQ

The Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band at Texas A&M University has welcomed its first female bass drummer to its ranks, Amanda Lovitt ’23, a junior cadet and engineering major from Plano, Texas.

A member of the Corps of Cadets’ A-Battery, Lovitt set her sights on becoming a bass drummer very early on in her Corps career. She said Corps leadership looks for both moral character and physical ability in a bass drummer.

“We are supposed to represent the ‘Noble Men of Kyle’ which means you have to be someone of high moral character that embodies all of the core values of the Corps of Cadets,” Lovitt said. “They don’t tell us explicitly, but they start watching us during our fish (freshman) year for a spot with the bass drummers.

a photo of Amanda Lovitt in her Corps uniform giving the gig 'em thumb, standing in the Quad
Lovitt is a member of the Corps of Cadets’ A-Battery unit.
Texas A&M Corps of Cadets

“At the start of sophomore year, they really start looking at how involved you are. Do you stay late after practice? Do you go to extra practices in your free time? All of these aspects are what they consider, among other things. Of course there are physical drumming tryouts where you learn the basics of playing the instrument, but they really look at what kind of person you are.”

After two years, her hard work and determination had finally paid off. She was selected to be one of the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band’s newest bass drummers, an honor only given to juniors in the band.


 “When I found out that I had been selected, I was on cloud nine,” she said. “In the months following, I would randomly think about it and just immediately have the biggest smile on my face. Being a bass drummer is something only juniors are allowed to do. Juniors have the experience, we know the ropes, and we are comfortable with playing such a large instrument. Seniors often want to use their final year to relax and play something more specific to what they like. It’s a demanding job.”

Then, unbeknownst to Lovitt at the time of her audition, she discovered another important piece of information about a newly earned title: the first female in band history to be named a bass drummer.

“Going into bass drum tryouts, I had no idea that being the first female bass drummer would even be a possibility,” she said. “It was just something I was going out for because it was something that I wanted. It wasn’t until after I made it that a former cadet called me to congratulate me on being the first female. It wasn’t something that I had even considered when trying out, but it was definitely something that made me surprised and excited when I did.” 

Lovitt said she hopes her success with the band helps inspire other young women.

“With this platform, I would like to be able to motivate others,” she said. “I want to see other young women and tell them that nothing can stop them from achieving their goals. You are the only thing that stands in your way of success, and I want to be able to show young girls that in this position.”

Lovitt said she’s already beginning to see how the ripples of her success are being cast out to other young women. 

“At Midnight Yell, I actually had a gentleman come up to me and ask if I was the first female bass drum player,” she said. “When I told him that I was, he began telling me about how I’m his young daughter’s biggest inspiration. For me, that broke my heart in the very best way. That is what being in this position is all about. It is all about inspiring others.”

She shares the following advice for all women looking to break into predominantly male fields:

“Don’t let anyone get you down, including yourself,” she said. “A lot of times, we are our own worst enemy. This can sometimes be multiplied by 10 when you’re around men, even if they don’t mean it. Sometimes you can be seen differently just for being a woman, which can be hard to take. Don’t let that get to you, and don’t be afraid to stand up and say ‘this is me and I’m here to stay.’”

Along the way, there have been a number of people who have inspired Lovitt, she said, among them family members, friends, and her fellow Aggie band members. But one in particular stands out.

“Nick Rossi, the band commander when I was a freshman, actually sat down with me and had a few conversations with me at different times,” Lovitt said. “He seemed like one of those people that I would never speak to as a fish since he was a senior, but he was so inspiring and he really changed the way I think. He motivated me to be a better cadet and to be a better band member. He had that leader mindset that brought me up to his level.”Lovitt said she’s ready to perform, inspire and leave her mark on Aggie history.

“When I march, everything else disappears. I go into my own little world,” she said. “The band is my escape. Nothing in the outside world matters to me when I am performing. I may be the first female, but I know I won’t be the last. I hope there are many, many more to come after me. I’m very excited about that.”

See original article at Aggie Band’s First Female Bass Drummer Talks About Demands, Honor Of The Job – Texas A&M Today

Filed Under: Title IX News

Texas A&M University Urges Safety Precautions, Respect As ‘Red Zone’ Period Is Underway

September 15, 2021 By Texas A&M Title IX

The Red Zone is the period of time between move-in and Thanksgiving break when more than half of sexual assaults on college campuses occur, and first-year students are especially vulnerable. By Lesley Henton, Texas A&M University Division of Marketing & Communications September 2, 2021


a graphic that reads Reclaim the Red Zone

As the fall semester kicks off at Texas A&M University, officials are urging everyone in the Aggie community to use personal safety strategies and treat one another with respect as the period of time known as the “Red Zone” has commenced.

The Red Zone is the time period between move-in and Thanksgiving break when college students across the country are statistically most susceptible to sexual assault. More than 50 percent of college sexual assaults occur during this period.

Texas A&M’s Assistant Vice President for the Office of Risk, Ethics and Compliance and Title IX officer Jennifer Smith said every student, regardless of age or gender, is at risk, and first-year female students are statistically the most vulnerable.

“As the fall semester begins each year, the campus is flooded with freshmen students who are eager to experience the college social scene for the first time,” Smith said. “Unfortunately, predators can exploit new students who may be unfamiliar with our community and may not have established friendships yet. Since this year’s sophomores may not have been on campus last fall due to COVID-19, we may have a larger-than-normal vulnerable population this year.”

a graphic that reads Be Respectful. Be Informed. Ask for Consent.

Consent

Sexual violence is never the fault of the victim. Consent is vital to ensure your partner is willing to participate in sexual activities. Consent for any kind of sexual or intimate encounter should be clear, voluntary and ongoing. In some situations, it can be confusing to know whether or not you really have consent, Smith said.

“The most reliable way to know is to get a verbal ‘yes’ before interacting with someone else’s body in a sexual way,” she said, adding that a nonverbal ‘yes’ is also okay as long as it is clear.

When your partner mirrors or escalates your behavior, that is a “yes,” she said. “But if you get a lukewarm response or a confusing response, you need to immediately stop and get a verbal ‘yes’ before continuing. Check in with your partner at every step along the way and make sure that they want to engage in the same behaviors that you do.”

A person who is incapacitated by drugs or alcohol is incapable of giving consent.

a graphic that reads Use the Buddy System

Safety Tips

Through its Step In Stand Up (SISU) bystander intervention program, the university is providing tips to help everyone in the campus community stay safe.

Simple steps like these can help reduce the risk of being victimized:

  • Use the buddy system
    You and your buddy can agree that if either of you appears intoxicated, gets sick, passes out, or has trouble walking or breathing, the other buddy will make sure they get home safe. Call 911in case of emergency.
  • Plan your trip
    Know how you’re going to get to and from your destination. Are you going to designate a trustworthy and sober driver? Are you planning on using CARPOOL (the free, nonjudgmental, sober ride home)? Familiarizing yourself with the area you are going to and your options for getting home can be critical for staying safe.
  • Avoid excessive use of drugs or alcohol
    There is a strong correlation between intoxication and sexual violence. The National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism estimates that each year, 696,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 are assaulted by another student who has been drinking. And 97,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 report experiencing alcohol-related sexual assault or date rape.
  • Watch your drink
    If you do choose to consume alcohol, don’t leave your drink unattended, even for an instant. A perpetrator might add an incapacitating chemical to a drink if you’re momentarily distracted. If your drink has an unusual taste or appearance (like a salty taste or an unexplained residue), throw it out. Watch the bartender make your drink and don’t let someone unknown to you bring you one. Drinks with lids or sports top are a good choice.
  • Use Safety Technology
    Research mobile apps that let you signal for help if you feel unsafe.

Step In Stand Up

This bystander intervention program asks every Aggie to “Step In” to prevent sexual violence and “Stand Up” to support survivors. SISU sponsors educational activities that promote awareness of sexual violence, the availability of campus resources and the options for reporting sexual misconduct to the university.

“The campaign also provides workshops and guest speakers throughout the year where faculty, staff, and students can learn to identify high-risk situations and obtain tools to intervene appropriately and safely in those situations,” Smith said, adding that she hopes as many campus members as possible become involved in SISU efforts.

“One of the best ways to get involved is to attend a presentation through the Office of Civil Rights and Equity Investigations (CREI) or Health Promotions,” she said. “These groups connect faculty, staff, and students with an extensive offering of classes – everything from healthy relationships to alcohol/drug education to self-defense classes.”

Additionally, Smith said, campus members can also learn about consent, sex education, and how to support a friend or colleague who has been impacted by sexual harassment or sexual violence.

“Unfortunately, victim blaming is common when sexual assault is discussed,” Smith said. “A victim can be blamed for being in the wrong place at the wrong time, wearing provocative clothes, or drinking too much. We want to make sure that everyone understands that interacting with someone’s body in a sexual way without their consent is a choice made by the perpetrator – not the survivor.”

a graphic that reads If It's Not Your Body Part, Do Not Touch Without Consent

Aggie Core Values

Participating in prevention efforts is an excellent way to live out Texas A&M’s core values, said Smith, especially respect, loyalty, integrity and selfless service.

“We can embody the core values by treating everyone with respect, acting with integrity, showing loyalty to fellow Aggies, and selflessly serving as active bystanders and advocates for survivors,” she said. “It is up to each one of us to ensure our campus is a safe place to live, work and learn.”

Resources

Register for on-campus training or request a presentation
How to report an incident
Safety resources
Support resources
Education resources
Title IX glossary of terms

Contact the Texas A&M Title IX office at 979-458-8407 or civilrights@tamu.edu

See original article at https://today.tamu.edu/2021/09/02/texas-am-university-urges-safety-precautions-respect-as-red-zone-period-begins

Filed Under: Title IX News

Dr. Kathy Banks Becomes 26th President Of Texas A&M University

April 1, 2021 By Texas A&M Title IX

The vice chancellor and dean of engineering begins the top job June 1.

By Texas A&M University System Communications Staff

MARCH 31, 2021

The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents on Wednesday confirmed M. Katherine Banks as the 26th President of Texas A&M University.

Dr. Banks, currently Vice Chancellor of Engineering and National Laboratories and Dean of the Texas A&M College of Engineering, assumes her duties June 1.

President Banks also will carry the title Vice Chancellor of National Laboratories and National Security Strategic Initiatives because of her continued involvement with Los Alamos National Laboratory and the Bush Combat Development Complex at the RELLIS Campus.

Dr. Banks, who has led engineering for the past decade, was selected after a national search led by Elaine Mendoza and Tim Leach, Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Board of Regents, and a 15-member search committee.

“After a robust national search, which drew top-notch, competitive candidates, our Board today unanimously confirmed Dr. Katherine Banks as the next President of Texas A&M University,” Chairman Mendoza said. “With her decade of accomplishments evident right here on campus, Dr. Banks will be ready and able to move forward from day one. Texas A&M is a great university and under her leadership, we are expecting it to be even greater; we are excited to see this next chapter unfold.”

“We have all worked with Dr. Banks for many years and we know what she has done to transform our engineering college, which this week the U.S. News & World Report ranked as the best in Texas,” said Chancellor John Sharp. “Dr. Banks is going to do for the university what she has already done for engineering.  She is going to be a great president.”

“I am truly honored that the Board of Regents has selected me to be the next president of this great university,” said Dr. Banks. “Crucial listening sessions will begin soon with key stakeholders across campus and beyond to gather perspectives concerning the issues, challenges, and opportunities that we face today. I look forward to working together as we take Texas A&M University to new levels of preeminence.”

Filed Under: Title IX News Tagged With: Texas A&M, Texas A&M President, Texas A&M University

Texas A&M University’s Bystander Intervention Program Receives State Recognition

January 7, 2021 By Texas A&M Title IX

The Green Dot Program was named the 2019 Outstanding Crime Prevention Program.

By

Texas A&M University Division of Student Affairs, Health Promotion Staff – December 21, 2020.

Green Dot Facilitator, Kaysey Aguilar

Texas A&M University’s Green Dot program has been awarded the Outstanding Crime Prevention Program for 2019 by the Central Texas Crime Prevention Association.

Green Dot is a nationally recognized, evidence-based prevention program that provides individuals with the skills and knowledge to identify when acts of power-based personal violence are occurring and intervene appropriately and safely during high-risk situations.

The Green Dot program is administered by the Health Promotion team, which is part of the Offices of the Dean of Student Life in the Division of Student Affairs. The award announcement was delayed internally due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Health Promotion officials said.

“We are thankful for both past and present faculty and staff facilitators who have continued to make this program a success, and we would not be here without the students, faculty and staff who consistently make Green Dot a priority for their departments, classes or organizations,” said Jazmin Jones, Health Promotion specialist.

Texas A&M has demonstrated a long-standing commitment to the prevention of power-based personal violence, including acts of sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence and stalking, university officials said. Since 2015, the Step In Stand Up campaign has served as a call to action for Texas A&M students, faculty and staff to end sexual violence on campus and in the communities in which they live and serve. The Green Dot program aligns with the “Step In” part of the Step In Stand Up campaign.

Kristi Hosea, a Green Dot facilitator from the Texas A&M University Police Department and member of the 2009 inaugural Green Dot Steering Committee, said in many situations, stepping in to help can be challenging.

“In Green Dot training, we teach, ‘See something, say something,’ but in real-life situations, internal obstacles sometimes get in the way,” she said. “We teach how to recognize the situation, what internal obstacles may keep us from getting involved, and options on how to help, despite the obstacles.”

Options include the “3Ds”: direct, delegate and distract. Be direct with the victim or perpetrator, delegate by telling someone else, or use a distraction technique to derail the situation. Participants are taught which options to use based on the situation or group dynamics.

Becoming knowledgeable about the Green Dot strategy is one of the most tangible ways anyone can serve as an ally who promotes violence prevention, bring awareness to the need for bystander intervention, and empower others to have informed conversations about these issues, Health Promotion officials said. Green Dot facilitators reach an average of nearly 2,500 Aggies each academic year.

With virtual instruction opportunities during the 2020-21 academic year, Health Promotion encourages every member of the Texas A&M community to become “Aggies on the Dot” by registering to attend open instructional sessions throughout the spring semester or specifically requesting the instruction as professional development for their specific student or staff teams.

For more information on how to engage with this program, contact GreenDot@tamu.edu or visit the Green Dot website.

Filed Under: Title IX News Tagged With: Bystander Intervention, Green Dot, Health Promotions, Prevention of violence

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