Sports Media Report
The ACC, Big Ten, and Pac-12 Alliance today announced details of the year-long plan to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Title IX through its multi-pronged campaign “Celebrating 50 Years of Title IX TogetHER.”
Title IX, the groundbreaking federal civil rights law, prohibits gender discrimination in educational programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance. Since its passage, the historic legislation has positively impacted the lives of women and provided a pathway in their continued pursuit of achieving gender equity in collegiate athletics.
The celebration, which began with the unveiling of the campaign and logo in February on National Girls and Women in Sports Day, will ramp up significantly during the 2022-23 academic year. A centerpiece of the campaign is a new public service announcement that the three conferences collaborated on in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Title IX. The PSA will air on the three conference networks, throughout the league’s events and championships, as well as the conferences’ social media channels.
Additionally, later this year, each conference will recognize and highlight 50 notable student-athletes, coaches and/or administrators who have made a significant impact during the last 50 years. The Alliance’s 41 world-class member institutions’ have combined to win 352 NCAA women’s championships and a combined 1,038 total NCAA Championships.
The Alliance’s Title IX 50th Anniversary Celebration logo will be featured on apparel, signage and other branding items throughout conference championships and events. The three leagues will also honor the storied history and success of former, current and future female student-athletes, coaches and administrators through a variety of program offerings.
To bring awareness to what all 41 institutions across the Alliance are doing on campus, each conference has created a Title IX Microsite in conjunction with today’s release, which consists of links to member institutions’ Title IX web sites, creative content and Title IX celebrations throughout the academic year.
In addition, the Alliance will identify multiple opportunities to amplify individual member institution celebrations throughout the campaign period.
“The golden anniversary of Title IX is a truly incredible milestone, and we are proud to honor this significant moment while also understanding we have a responsibility to further fairness and equity for women within college athletics,” said ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips, Ph.D. “We look forward to celebrating this remarkable anniversary throughout the 2022-23 academic year and doing so with our Alliance partners and the 41 world-class institutions within the ACC, Big Ten and Pac-12.”
“Title IX forever changed the landscape of college athletics,” said Big Ten Conference Commissioner Kevin Warren. “As a result of the platform provided by Title IX, talented young women across the nation have been empowered to realize their dreams. The Big Ten Conference is proud to take a leading role in gender equity to elevate women’s sports nationwide and to continue to foster an environment for women to thrive. We look forward to being a driving force during the next 50 years as we continue to enable future generations of student-athletes.”
“Title IX has created countless opportunities for women to achieve their dreams through sport and beyond,” said Pac-12 Commissioner George Kliavkoff. “This Title IX campaign is a great example of the power that our three conferences can bring to bear to celebrate and amplify the importance of this seminal law and all those who have embodied the importance of opportunity and equity.”
