UM women weren’t cut because there was nothing to cut

The University of Maine community had some hard news to face last week when President Fred Hutchinson announced an $8.1 million downsizing that will involve restructuring some colleges, merging departments, and eliminating programs and nearly 200 positions.

After surviving a previous reduction of $408,000 in the athletic department budget, AD Michael Ploszek and his staff were faced with the responsibility of trimming $333,000 more.

Ploszek’s administration took the steps it felt were necessary: football took a $150,000 cut; baseball, $60,000; men’s basketball, $8,000; four jobs were eliminated at a savings of $77,000; and the Sports Information Office was transferred to the Public Information Office to save $38,000.

Two areas were unaffected by the newest round of cuts: the women’s sports programs and the national championship hockey program.

The knee-jerk response to these revelations were swift: media jumped on the airwaves with the news that women’s sports at Maine weren’t cut “because of Title IX.”

I much preferred the explanation offered by our Mike Dowd, who wrote, “significantly, women’s sports were not touched out of respect (italics mine) for Title IX compliance.”

It was 20 years ago the United States Congress passed Title IX to the Education Amendments, guaranteeing women equal opportunity in programs and activities that receive federal funding.

Twenty years later, that guarantee remains unfulfilled.

Of course women’s sports didn’t get cut. What is there to cut?

If you are looking for equity in the programs you offer male and female athletes, you can’t cut positions you don’t have. You can’t cut scholarships that don’t exist. You can’t cut support staff that has not, is not, and will not be there.

Maine women, and their coaches, have been long-suffering in their pursuit of athletic excellence on the flagship campus of the University of Maine system.

Their programs have succeeded because they have been truly dedicated to their sport and have gone the extra mile to help make it survive. In the past, they succeeded in spite of university support, not because of it.

Women coaches know, if the job has to get done, they might have to do it themselves. They are not above raking grounds, borrowing equipment, or mending fences, physical or emotional.

For years, the women’s staff has put in extra hours and given of itself above and beyond the call of duty to help make the university community proud of the people who represent Maine.

Today, as the public looks at the university, it would do well to look at the people who have, and do, constitute the core of women’s athletics at Maine.

These people, by their dedication, diligence, loyalty, and hard work, have given university supporters much to cheer about over the years.

But, more than anything, they have demonstrated a unique character that says obstacles are to be overcome.

Money makes a difference, of course. Maine women are slowly getting a taste of what it means to have programs funded to what might be considered a satisfactory level.

They have waited long for a semblance of equity on this campus.

As you reflect on the changes taking place in Orono, do not begrudge Maine women this small acknowledgment of the recognition of their worth.