On the other hand, Northeastern still spends disproportionate sums on men's sports. Statistics compiled by Northeastern under the new federal Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act reveal that women made up 44 percent of the student population and 38 percent of the athletic population during the 1995-96 academic year. Under the compliance agreement with the civil rights office, Northeastern agreed to take several steps to remedy gender inequities in the athletics department. Athletics director Barry Gallup said that much progress has been made toward reaching spending parity, and he expects even more. Freeland said he's determined to achieve proportionally equal funding of men's and women's sports by the year 2000.
Equity is an issue to watch for and watch out for.
We're all likely to slide into the path of sin. Fowler is optimistic that the athletics department will achieve true gender equity soon. And I think we will. Anthropology professor Christine Gailey, coordinator of the women's studies program, added that women athletes at Northeastern and nationwide routinely thrive, even when their teams are undervalued and underfunded. What the women really need, argued Gailey, is more opportunity.