SDSU to Improve Women’s Athletic Programs

San Diego State University has agreed to improve some aspects of its women’s athletic programs in response to the completion of a review by the U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights.

The Office of Civil Rights, under the authority of the Title IX legislation, found that SDSU was in compliance in the major areas with Title IX but that some disparity existed.

The agency found that women athletes at SDSU did not receive the benefits, opportunities and treatment available to male athletes in the areas of travel and per diem meal money, provision of locker rooms, practice and competitive facilities, housing and dining, publicity and recruitment.

In a letter to the agency dated June 27, 1991, SDSU President Tom Day agreed to implement a plan to remedy the disparities. SDSU officials figure that will entail the redirection of $17,500 in the 1991-1992 budget.

“As a result of this review by the Office of Civil Rights, we have gone through an extensive exercise of program evaluation, which is good,” SDSU Athletic Director Fred Miller said in a statement. “We are satisfied that the Office of Civil Rights has found a majority of our policies and procedures to be in compliance with their guidelines. . . .

“As always, it is our intent to provide a balanced program of competitive opportunities for our men and women student-athletes.”

As evidence of SDSU’s continued compliance with the agency in the area of athletic financial assistance, the university has agreed to file two annual reports--one no later than Oct. 1, 1991, and the other no later than Oct. 1, 1992.