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Otterbein athletic director addresses Title IX recruiting expenses

Otterbein University spent almost two and a half times more on recruiting male athletes than on female athletes in 2012.

The numbers were presented in a recent Columbus Dispatch article involving a federal probe on Denison University’s Title IX compliance. Title IX, which was passed in the Education Amendments of 1972, states that intuitions of higher education cannot discriminate based on gender.

Federal data collected showed Otterbein spent $33,395 on recruiting male athletes and $9,771 on recruiting female athletes. 242 percent more money was spent on men’s recruiting in 2012.

“We are Title IX compliant,” said second year Otterbein Athletic Director Dawn Stewart. “Like most other small Division III schools the way we manage equality in our program is that we survey students on campus to gauge sports interest.”

The US Department of Education Office for Civil Rights considers whether schools are adequately accommodating the athletic interests and abilities of both sexes. This includes giving the opportunity to male and female athletes and providing equal treatment.

U.S. Department of Education spokesperson David Thomas said that the Title IX interpretation includes recruitment as one of the laundry list of program components that should be evaluated in determining whether an athletic program provides equal opportunity for male and female athletes. A significant difference in recruitment expenses does not necessarily mean noncompliance. There can be legitimate reasons for these differences.

Stewart said that the recruiting expenses, which come from an NCAA report that Otterbein files every year, are skewed because schools can use money on recruiting from different university departments. At Otterbein, all recruiting expenses come out of the athletic department.

“All of our sports programs and all of our coaches are provided equitable opportunities,” said Stewart, also a former Otterbein athlete. “And in this specific case to recruit prospects to our campus.”

Federal data also showed 62 percent of the student body at Otterbein was female in 2012. Only 32 percent were athletes on campus during that year.

Denison University is being investigated on violating Title IX after sports participation numbers did not closely match the female student body. Women made up 58 percent of the student population at Denison University while 42 percent of women were considered athletes. In response, university officials said that Denison University does offer offer more women’s sports than men’s sports.

Title IX promotes gender equality for students in all aspects of education including athletics. In an Otterbein360 article in January 2013, women’s basketball head coach Connie Richardson said Title IX was always about the students.

Logan Meyst contributed to this story.


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