Alittle more than 30 years ago, it was uncommon for women to go to college. It was even more uncommon to see a woman compete in an athletic event.

In 1971, only 18 percent of U.S. women and 26 percent of men had actually completed four or more years at a university, according the U.S. Department of Education. Today, men and women are more equally represented in higher education. Women have the opportunities to play sports competitively and have women’s resource centers at most academic institutions. This is all thanks to Title IX, the mandate that states there can be no sex discrimination in “any education program receiving federal assistance.” This month nearly 25 years ago, women athletes and coaches at WSU took the university to court to enforce Title IX, which provided both men and women more educational opportunities.

There are a lot of arguments surrounding Title IX. At WSU, there are several club sports that will simply never be included as Division I varsity because of Title IX. At fellow Pac-10 schools University of Arizona and Arizona State University, there has been some concern with the women’s basketball teams scrimmaging against the male basketball players. The women like the competition and challenge, but because some female players are left on the sidelines during these practices, it is in violation of the amendment. However, if the players themselves don’t feel threatened or limited, and welcome the challenge, then the stipulations of the amendment need to be reinterpreted to evolve and fit the needs of women now.

While Title IX is the educational amendment most famously known for equal funding of men’s and women’s athletics, it has allowed for the higher percentage of men and women in college. Gender equity in intercollegiate athletics has garnered support and added confidence to the women’s movement, but the foundation Title IX has laid for women in higher education is even more valuable.

Regardless of the debates, Title IX is one of the best things that happened in the perpetual human rights movement. It was necessary to get us where we are today, as we examine and re-evaluate the struggle to gain and sustain equal rights in academic and sport spectrums.