Here's some good news:
The Obama administration plans to change the so-called Title IX policy which governs gender equality in sports, eliminating what some women's rights supporters claim is a Bush-administration loophole in compliance, according to a senior White House official.
Before Bush, Title IX had three requirements:
that the proportion of male and female students participating in sports at the university was proportional to the number of male and female students enrolled in the university; that the university was expanding opportunities for women students in athletics; and that the university was meeting the athletic abilities and interests of women students.
After Bush?
In 2005, the Office for Civil Rights amended the policy, declaring that universities could comply with the third requirement if they asked students to complete a survey of their interests. The change also allowed them to equate lack of response with a lack of interest in athletics.
The 2005 rule was never widely implemented, however, because it was opposed by the N.C.A.A., which advised its members to ignore it. Erik Christianson, a spokesman for the N.C.A.A., said the organization would not comment until an official announcement was made.
In other words, the NCAA knew the loosened requirement was bullshit, which is why it advised schools to outright ignore the Bush policy, which made it easier for schools to get around providing equitable resources for women. And now the Obama administration is taking another step to restore the country to its pre-Bush standards.
Vice President Biden announced the change in policy yesterday:
“Making Title IX as strong as possible is a no-brainer,” Biden said this afternoon at an event at George Washington University. “What we’re doing here today will better ensure equal opportunity in athletics, and allow women to realize their potential - so this nation can realize its potential.”
Another example of the Obama administration cleaning up Bush's mess.