Chapter 24: The New Era of the 1920s





The following activities accompany the Legacy for a People and a Nation on "Intercollegiate Athletics" in Chapter 24. Refer to page 692 of Norton, A People and a Nation, Sixth Edition for the complete text of this Legacy. There are three parts to this web page: Questions to Consider, Investigation, and Further Exploration.




Questions to Consider
1. To what extent did the school's athletic programs figure into your choice of a university or college? How did the programs influence your decision?

2. How important are successful sports programs to the reputations of universities and colleges?

3. If we have a society and university system calling for reforms, why do we find meaningful athletic reforms so difficult to legislate?


Investigation
Although Title IX became law in 1972, court decisions in the early 1990s have significantly changed the role of women's athletics at many universities. Capitol College in Maryland may not have a big time sports program, but a faculty member and a coach decided to square-off on the interraction between college athletics and academic administrators and let you decide whether college athletics are essential to a good education. After reading their remarks, how would you respond to the question: "Are college athletics essential to a good education at your school or at one of your favorite institutions?" Prepare a letter for your school's newspaper.




Further Exploration
1. Read the Knight Foundation Reports that prompted a significant overhaul of the governing structure of college athletics.

2. Du Page County, Illinois recalls the innovations and influence that Red Grange brought to athletics in higher education.

3. Read an interesting article comparing recruiting for men’s and women’s collegiate athletics.

4. The Education Development Center suggests that Title IX (Women’s Educational Equity Act) benefits all students. Click on the "About Us" link to read about their arguments and FAQs regarding Title IX.