GM Marlene Bjornsrud defends Title IX in Mercury News
February 25, 2003 - Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)
San Jose CyberRays News Release
SAN JOSE (Feb. 25, 2003) â San Jose CyberRays general manager Marlene Bjornsrud defended Title IX yesterday in a guest column in the San Jose Mercury News, saying the creation of women's professional sports leagues such as the WUSA illustrate just how successful the federal law has been in expanding opportunities for women.
``Without it,'' she wrote, ``Without it, there would be no Brandi Chastain to challenge and inspire young girls in search of a hero with whom to identify. There would be no Mia Hamm or Jennifer Azzi. There would be no WUSA nor WNBA teams to employ them and allow their skills to be practiced at the highest level.''
Bjornsrud said a federal panel, which is expected to recommend changes to Title IX in a report due Wednesday, is ``tinkering with a law that has created even more benefits than its supporters originally envisioned,'' and said the panel's review is really an attempt to gut the law.
Accepting the panel's recommendations ``will mean we still believe women are not entitled to opportunity by virtue of their humanity but must depend on the generosity of others for a favor,'' she said.
Julie Foudy, a player on the San Diego Spirit and a member of the federal panel, said Tuesday she could not support the panel's report and would instead submit a minority report with co-panelist Donna de Varona.
The full text of Bjornsrud's ``My View'' column is available online at http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/news/opinion/5249624.htm.
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Women's United Soccer Association Stories from February 25, 2003
- Courage Begin WUSA Preseason Saturday - Carolina Courage
- Carey Dorn, 1st CyberRay to score goal, retires - San Jose CyberRays
- GM Marlene Bjornsrud defends Title IX in Mercury News - San Jose CyberRays
- Power Launches New Mobile Marketing Tour - New York Power
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
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