Coaches to Address Unequal Funds

In the wake of a report released Tuesday that details vast inequities in the funding of men's and women's sports teams, the Department of Athletics will hold a press conference this afternoon to address the issue.

According to the report, issued under the Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act, men's sports teams receive more money than women's teams for recruiting, coaches' salaries and operating expenses.

Football and ice hockey spend the majority of the sports budget, according to the report.

A group of women's sports coaches will also meet this morning to discuss the report, but it is not yet clear what action, if any, they will take. Yesterday morning, each coach received the report in his or her mailbox, marking the first time Harvard coaches have seen the Athletic Department's budget.

Since the University receives funds from the federal government, it is required to comply with Title IX, part of a 1972 Congressional bill prohibiting sex discrimination in education.

In an e-mail message last night, however, Dean of the College Harry R. Lewis '68 wrote that female athletes have much to be thankful for at Harvard.

"Harvard is extremely proud of the athletic program for women," he wrote. "Harvard offers more varsity sports for women than any other institution in the country.... There are no women athletes who are being denied athletic opportunities because of lack of funding."

Lewis also said that the high operating costs for men's hockey and football were a result of their large attendances, meaning that these sports spend money on things that other sports don't need. He also added that football and men's hockey have a high number of participants.

In the 15 cases where male and female athletes play very similar sports, the men's teams outspend the women's in seven cases. Two women's teams outspend the men, and six sports are essentially equal.

Women's lacrosse coach Carole A. Kleinfelder said that the Department of Athletics has made several efforts toward equality over the past few years and that today there are more women's teams and a greater number of the head coaches are women than just a few years ago.

Nevertheless, she felt that more needs to be done.

"It is wonderful that we have all of these sports, but that isn't the issue," Kleinfelder said. "The issue is compliance [with Title IX]."

Many students said yesterday they were upset by the statistics in the report.

"I respect the football players...but to be devoting that much funding to football and hockey isn't exactly fair," said Julia M. Kim '98, a varsity women's tennis player.

Men's sports generate greater revenues than women's sports. In addition, many teams have friends' groups that earmark donations for specific sports. Because of their larger support networks, men's teams generally receive more funds from these sources.

But Elissa R. Hart '98, a member of the varsity volleyball team, had few objections to the manner in which women in sports are treated at Harvard.

"I haven't felt that women are second-class citizens," she said.

"You can't say the Athletics Department isn't trying," Kim agreed.

Kim said she recognized the problems with demanding equality.

"I would like to be able to say [that] we want equal funding. But as a realist, it isn't as easy as that," she said.

Men's soccer player Jordan P. Dupuis '99 also said he recognized unequal funding as a problem but suggested that the situation cannot be remedied.

"It's not necessarily fair, but that's the way it is and there's nothing you can do about it," he said.

President Neil L. Rudenstine would not comment on the report. Radcliffe President Linda S. Wilson, while refusing to comment on specifics, expressed concern over the issue.

"In sports, as in every other arena, it is terribly important that women's aspirations be supported," she said.

Radcliffe College does have a small amount of funding that is allocated to women's sports teams each year.

But there is not enough money in the special Radcliffe fund to balance the inequality between men's and women's sports. There will not be an increase in funding from Radcliffe as a result of the new report, Wilson said

Nevertheless, she felt that more needs to be done.

"It is wonderful that we have all of these sports, but that isn't the issue," Kleinfelder said. "The issue is compliance [with Title IX]."

Many students said yesterday they were upset by the statistics in the report.

"I respect the football players...but to be devoting that much funding to football and hockey isn't exactly fair," said Julia M. Kim '98, a varsity women's tennis player.

Men's sports generate greater revenues than women's sports. In addition, many teams have friends' groups that earmark donations for specific sports. Because of their larger support networks, men's teams generally receive more funds from these sources.

But Elissa R. Hart '98, a member of the varsity volleyball team, had few objections to the manner in which women in sports are treated at Harvard.

"I haven't felt that women are second-class citizens," she said.

"You can't say the Athletics Department isn't trying," Kim agreed.

Kim said she recognized the problems with demanding equality.

"I would like to be able to say [that] we want equal funding. But as a realist, it isn't as easy as that," she said.

Men's soccer player Jordan P. Dupuis '99 also said he recognized unequal funding as a problem but suggested that the situation cannot be remedied.

"It's not necessarily fair, but that's the way it is and there's nothing you can do about it," he said.

President Neil L. Rudenstine would not comment on the report. Radcliffe President Linda S. Wilson, while refusing to comment on specifics, expressed concern over the issue.

"In sports, as in every other arena, it is terribly important that women's aspirations be supported," she said.

Radcliffe College does have a small amount of funding that is allocated to women's sports teams each year.

But there is not enough money in the special Radcliffe fund to balance the inequality between men's and women's sports. There will not be an increase in funding from Radcliffe as a result of the new report, Wilson said