GRANVILLE, Ohio (February 9, 2023) – This year marks the 50th anniversary of the passage of the Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, a landmark piece of legislation for gender equity.
In recognition of the 50th year of Title IX, Denison University Athletics asks you to join us in our year-long celebration as we recognize and pay tribute to the impact the women of this university have had on the athletic department.
On the ninth of each month from July 2022 to May 2023, Denison Athletics will highlight various female pioneers, former student-athletes, current student-athletes and coaches highlighting their impact on Denison Athletics and their thoughts on Title IX's impact on their lives.
Next up, we have the female student-athletes who previously competed at Denison during the 2020's.
Kelly O'Neill '21
Kelly O'Neill graduated from Denison University in 2021 with a B.A. in Health, Exercise, and Sport Studies and a Spanish minor. While at Denison, she was on the varsity women's soccer team which she captained for two seasons, and was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta and a HESS senior fellow. She conducted senior research with Dr. Gregory Lott titled "Emotional Intelligence and Mental Well-Being Among College Student Athletes" which is currently being prepared for journal and conference submissions.
After an interesting junior and senior year due to the pandemic, she moved to Madrid, Spain, to work as an English language assistant in a public school. There are quite a few Denisonians in Madrid, and she was able to play soccer and travel around Europe with them (and even host the DenionEverywhere Event). Her goal is to obtain a PhD in Sport Psychology with research centered around the intersection of sport and industrial psychology to create more positive sport experiences.
Q: As a student-athlete, how did you experience the effects of Title IX first-hand?
A: I was able to participate in a varsity sport at the university level and had the same access to resources as my fellow athletes which wouldn't have been possible without Title IX. I want to recognize that I am only able to reap these benefits because of the women and female athletes that fought for the right before me. I am so grateful that strong women existed and were able to make my dreams of playing at a university a reality.
Q: Why is it important to continue to learn about Title IX?
A: Title IX is often watered down to "equality between men and women", but it's about ensuring equity for all people regardless of gender identity or sexuality. Equality is simply giving everyone the same resources or opportunities while equity recognizes that some groups of people have various degrees of existing privilege or privileges which contribute to the resources and opportunities already available to them. Equity ensures that people are given appropriate resources and opportunities, depending on their degree of privilege, with the hope that there will be an equal outcome. Additionally, Title IX encompasses more than just women; it deals with issues surrounding sexual assault, recruitment/admissions, treatment of pregnancies and LGBTQIA+ people in programs that receive federal financial assistance. It's important for us to continue to learn and understand how Title IX directly impacts us as individuals, but also how it affects our coworkers, bosses, friends and family. With that comes a level of empathy which is something I think everyone could use a little more of!
Q: As a female student-athlete and now looking back after college, what does Title IX mean to you?
A: I guess Title IX was the initial foundation for me to be able to live my dream of playing collegiate soccer, but it allowed me to create meaningful relationships with other female student-athletes. These relationships were special; being an athlete is a unique experience in itself, but being a female student-athlete is something only a handful of the population, especially at Denison, can share. I feel a deep sense of camaraderie with them because there is this existing understanding.
I am thankful for Title IX, especially as I will be studying, researching and working in the sport industry which is male-dominant. Like I said in my first response, this is possible because of the women that have come before me.
Q: What do you think Denison did right regarding Title IX that other schools struggled with?
A: I think Denison did a good job of ensuring student-athletes understood the opportunities and resources available to them. Some of the biggest proponents of this were the athletic trainers who were essential in my experience as a student-athlete.
Q: Can you talk about a time in your life where you noticed inequities in sports, how that impacted you and how you handled it?
A: In one of my classes, we had a discussion surrounding equal pay. One of the questions was "Should male and female professional athletes be paid the same?" One student raised their hand and said no since there's more money with the men's side due to more viewers and engagement. Although I can understand where this reasoning came from, I spoke up and talked about how with anything involving men and women, women haven't been a part of the conversation as long as men. Obviously there's more money- there's been more time to invest. For example, the NBA has been around for 76 years. The WNBA? 26. The MLS has had 29 seasons while the NWSL is only on its 10th season. This is clear even at Denison. The women's soccer team was established in 1979 versus the men's team which had its first season in 1952- a 27 year difference. This impacts legacy, the number of alumni, donations, etc. which all contribute to sport experiences being different from team to team. Although the discussion we had in class wasn't a direct inequity I experienced, as a female athlete I was bothered that this thought pattern is exactly what's limiting the athletes I grew up idolizing from getting what they deserve. This is why advocacy from both male and female professional athletes is so important.
Sarah Radziewicz '21
Sarah Katharine Radziewicz graduated from Denison University in 2021. She majored in biology with a minor in chemistry and followed the pre-medical track. At Denison, she was the captain of the cross country and track team, president of the biological society and involved in Greek life. After Denison, she received a Master's in Biomedical Science and is now in her first year of medical school at VCOM – Spartanburg, SC.
Q: As a student-athlete, how did you experience the effects of Title IX first-hand?
A: For me, Title IX allowed me to compete at a varsity level and represent Denison Athletics. With cross country and track being such an integrated sport with the men's team, it was a great opportunity to have women compete at the same athletic events as the men's team and be seen as an equal on and off the track.
Q: Why is it important to continue to learn about Title IX?
A: It is important to continue to learn about Title IX because women before us have worked hard to create equality within sports, and it is crucial that we acknowledge their efforts. It is great that we celebrate the strength and success that women have in athletics.
Q: As a female student-athlete and now looking back after college, what does Title IX mean to you?
A: Participating in athletics in college not only shaped my experience but shaped me as a person. It taught me discipline, delayed gratification, teamwork, and other characteristics that cannot be taught within the classroom. Title IX to me means the ability for women to have the same opportunity to learn through these experiences. By allowing women to be able to participate in those same programs as men, we have access to the same learning experiences and can support other women. Also, this inclusivity can translate to breaking down barriers that women face in other areas of society.
Q: What do you think Denison did right regarding Title IX that other schools struggled with?
A: Denison was a huge advocate for equality across the campus. The inclusive and welcoming environment that Denison fostered was held to a high standard. The precedent that Denison set also was shared by the students and faculty. Our cross country and track team was always integrated between men and women, and this allowed for a close-knit group. My cross country and track teammates were my closest friends, and I am so thankful for all the memories we made together.
Angel Ehrenschwender '20
Angel Ehrenschwender graduated from Denison University in 2020 and was a three-year captain on the softball team. She majored in Biology with a concentration in Neuroscience. After graduation, Angel returned home to Cincinnati, Ohio, and earned her Master's degree in Public Health from the University of Cincinnati. Angel now works at Cincinnati Children's Hospital as a clinical research coordinator. She helps lead a local youth ministry for high school students and has taken up ice hockey as a pastime.
Q: Why is it important to continue to learn about Title IX?
A: Understanding Title IX and what it represents for women in athletics is a reminder that we have a continuous role in advocating for equality and equity for all people.
Q: As a female student-athlete and now looking back after college, what does Title IX mean to you?
A: Looking back, Title IX represents the opportunity to compete to the best of my ability and to push those around me to do the same. Because of Title IX and my time as a student-athlete, I grew in my athletic ability, but also in my ability to lead others on and off the field.
Q: What do you think Denison did right regarding Title IX that other schools struggled with?
A: Denison worked tirelessly to ensure that all athletes felt respected and seen. They placed women in positions of leadership within the athletic department and ensured that our voice was always heard.
Q: Can you talk about a time in your life where you noticed inequities in sports, how that impacted you and how you handled it?
A: I grew up tossing baseball with my brothers in our backyard. I didn't know then that our journeys would be so different in the athletic world. When I was young, my parents had a hard time finding a softball team for me to play on. I didn't grow up in an economically advantaged area and so resources were limited. While my brothers had a choice of teams, options for girl's teams were very limited. This is the story for so many young girls that want to get involved in sports. I learned at a young age that we only get so many chances in life, and so we must take hold of the ones that we are given. Denison University and my time as a student-athlete marks an amazing four years for which I am forever grateful.
