Adventures With Nancy: TITLE IX CELEBRATION FOR WOMEN ATHLETES AT WWU

I am so very far behind in posting anything here, I am not sure that I will actually “catch up”. But as my supervisor (Diane) told me when I began my job, trying to dig out from under oh so much backlog from previous employees — at some point you must cut your losses and continue from this day forward!! Heeding such sage advice, that is what I will do now, and maybe go back to some of my past stories later - and maybe not.

OK so, I know you will recall that back in the day, women athletes were second class citizens to men athletes and thus, not only did they have to FIGHT for the use of the gym and equipment for practice, they were never awarded any recognition. The men (at least at WWU) got letters, blankets, jackets and any other awards while the women got none. Fast forward to 1972ish when Title IX was enacted and ensured that all athletes would be treated with equality. That meant facilities as well as awards and all other things that had been unattainable for women would now be available to them. THIS WAS A BIG DEAL FOR WOMEN. Initially there was still the need to fight those male coaches for use of the gym and equipment, and the men thought of the women coaches as “the devil”, but eventually that did change. Fortunately.

All this to say that WWU (Western Washington University), along with their campus ‘Back to Home’ weekend celebration, included a celebration of all WWU women athletes who never received their varsity award(s).

Susan, being one of those athletes, was sure to not miss this long overdue recognition so we planned a few days of camping around the weekend. And to start that off, one of her roommates, Marilyn, planned a little reunion time with several of their past roommates at WWU back in the day. Marilyn and her husband Gary were most gracious hosts, providing us a delightful spot for our RV, nestled in the trees and next to the chickens, put out snacks for an afternoon of chatting and giggling together as the roommates relived some of their antics. Top that with each of us being given a homemade by Marilyn roll of pizza dough to make our own pizzas for dinner. What fun.

We loved the chickens and they sure did seem to enjoy us being nearby. They always ran to the fence when we came by.

The roommates had lots of fun catching up and remembering their antics together.

At the table: Maggie (who brought the basketball balloon), Marilyn, Betty, Sandy, Susan

Marilyn had made pizza dough for each of us to make and enjoy our own pizza.

Lots of toppings to load up the pizza. And though I did not get a photo, we enjoyed an early evening dessert of blueberry crisp with blueberry preserves made from Marilyn & Gary’s very own grown blueberries. Yummy.

The gals included a Basketball balloon to honor Susan, and it followed us on to our camp spot at Lynden KOA.

Before camping though we had the celebration on Saturday, the athletes’ breakfast on Sunday. So, a few photos from the celebration and awards day. There was a tour of the new athletic facility (Caver Gym) which is truly state of the art, then mingling time where the athletes met and mingled. Then they each got their long overdue Varsity Letter.

The athletes lined up in order of the year(s) they played, starting with the more recent and going back to 1968-70. Then each was called up individually.

Susan walks to the podium as her name is called…

The celebration was live streamed and Sarah sent a couple of photos from her TV viewing.

This is what helped for the pronunciation of Susan’s entire name…

Susan and her coach of years past…

Another photo sent by Sarah with Granddaughter Lucy watching Grama get her award. What a wonderful thing for Lucy to witness and be aware of. All of Sarah’s and Jenny’s family cheered and hurrahed as they watch the live stream of Grama walking to receive her varsity letter.

After all awards were given there was time again to mingle and for group photos.

Susan gathered with her Track team.

Though Susan and Elaine did not participate in sports with each other (Elaine lettered in Volleyball, Susan in Basketball, Track & Field, and Cross Country), they developed a life long friendship that has carried over to their children. and even grandchildren, being close friends as well. More family than friends.