The celebration of the creation of Title IX is well deserved. It has certainly changed many lives for the better.

Not all the impact has been positive, however.

College athletic departments historically have only one or two sports that have sufficient revenues to cover expenses. After Title IX was implemented, schools suddenly had twice as many sports (and athletes) to support, but still only one or two sports to provide the finances.

So, what to do? Answer: Grow the football program (stadium additions, big TV contracts, more aggressive recruiting, more aggressive fundraising, etc.). Big-time football sometimes leads academic institutions to make unwise decisions to "protect their brand" (see Penn State). College presidents are too often selected for their fundraising talents, not for skills at managing complex organizations, and many have no control over their athletic departments. The head football coach is too often the most powerful figure on the campus.

Sad that something so positive could play a role in creating such unsettling developments.

Bob Clarke

Hilton Head Island