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Gender Equity in UC Davis Athletics
Statement of Senior Associate Athletic Director Nona Richardson
Informational Hearing
Senate Select Committee on Gender Discrimination
and Title IX Implementation
11 a.m. Friday, August 24, 2007
UC Berkeley, Clark Kerr Campus
Bldg. 14, Joseph Wood Krutch Theatre
Senior Associate Athletic Director Nona Richardson's prepared remarks:
Nona Richardson
Thank you, Greg, and good day, Senator Florez.
Although I have been at UC Davis for only four short months, I have had knowledge of the history of its success as it relates to women's athletics for years. That success, coupled with the Eight Core Principles of Intercollegiate Athletics, strengthened my resolve to be a part of UC Davis Athletics.
In a day and age of discontinuation of athletic programs across the country, the fact that we have added viable sport programs (not one or two, but four in the past ten years) on the women's side, has become unprecedented.
When I was presented with the Eight Core Principles of Intercollegiate Athletics during my interview process, I did not think it was feasible for a Division I athletics program to operate under those premises. Philosophically this was what I was looking for, but I initially questioned whether it was viable. I no longer question, because we are holding to our goals and objectives.
A principle of no “tiering" (where certain sports would receive more than others based on their hierarchy of success or conference affiliation) assists us in providing relative support and resources for all programs. This is not often a written document within departments nationwide, but it is a practiced one at UC Davis.
The practice of tiering often leads to the reduction of sports programs, because the more you put into one or two sports, the more you take away from other sport programs until eventually they are no longer viable and they are discontinued. We position ourselves to add sports – not reduce them. That's one of our core principles.
My predecessor, Pam Gill-Fisher, for years, in conjunction with our Title IX Officer and Title IX Work Group, worked diligently to lay the foundation and to continue our progress in adhering to Title IX. As this is not a one-shot deal, but a continuing effort, we will continue our commitment to meeting the law.
Compliance with Title IX is not just a Senior Woman Administrator torch to carry; it is not a coach's or an athlete's torch; it is a departmental and institutional issue. Adherence because it is the right thing to do should be the mantra. In the experience that I have had thus far at UC Davis, it is evident to me that it is the mantra and there is a vested interest from the top down in compliance with this law.
Last updated August 23, 2007