UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones December 2017 A Historical Case Study of Title IX in Nevada: An Excellent Investment in Our Youth Jason Clark University of Nevada, Las Vegas, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/thesesdissertations Part of the Ethnic Studies Commons, Gender and Sexuality Commons, Race and Ethnicity Commons, United States History Commons, and the Women's Studies Commons Repository Citation Clark, Jason, "A Historical Case Study of Title IX in Nevada: An Excellent Investment in Our Youth" (2017). UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones. 3120. https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/thesesdissertations/3120 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by Digital Scholarship@UNLV. It has been accepted for inclusion in UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones by an authorized administrator of Digital Scholarship@UNLV. For more information, please contact [email protected]. A HISTORICAL CASE STUDY OF TITLE IX IN NEVADA: AN EXCELLENT INVESTMENT IN OUR YOUTH By Jason L. Clark Bachelor of Arts – Secondary Education University of Nevada, Las Vegas 2005 A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Masters of Arts - History Department of History College of Liberal Arts The Graduate College University of Nevada, Las Vegas December 2017 Thesis Approval The Graduate College The University of Nevada, Las Vegas November 17, 2017 This thesis prepared by Jason L. Clark entitled A Historical Case Study of Title IX in Nevada: An Excellent Investment in Our Youth is approved in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Arts – History Department of History William Bauer, Ph.D. Kathryn Hausbeck Korgan, Ph.D. Examination Committee Chair Graduate College Interim Dean Maria Casas, Ph.D. Examination Committee Member Kendra Gage, Ph.D. Examination Committee Member Tanachi Padoongpatt, Ph.D. Graduate College Faculty Representative ii ABSTRACT A Historical Case Study of Title IX in Nevada: An Excellent Investment in Our Youth By Jason L. Clark William Bauer, Ph. D., Examination Committee Chair Professor and Graduate Coordinator of the History Department University of Nevada, Las Vegas The purpose of this study was to examine and document the history of Title IX in the American West, specifically at the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR), and at Clark County School District (CCSD) in Las Vegas, Nevada. This thesis contends that since the late nineteenth-century, women have utilized sports as a method to shed discriminatory stereotypes, fight for inclusion, and promote gender equality. In addition, the progressive actions of educational administrators and community leaders regarding Title IX make both UNR and CCSD exceptional institutions for gender equality. This thesis contains six chapters including the introduction and conclusion. Chapter 1 documents the history of women and sports in the United States before the passage of Title IX. Chapter 2 documents the national response to Title IX. Chapter 3 examines the history and reaction to Title IX at UNR, and my final chapter illustrates the history, response, and execution of Title IX at CCSD. Using historical case study methods, this thesis intended to provide a historical account and analysis of Title IX in the American West. Data sources included: scholarship on the history of sports in the United States, the American West, and Title IX; court documents and legal cases; magazine and newspaper articles; CCSD documents; archived oral histories; and interviews. The questions that guided this thesis were: What role did sports play in the evolution of the Women’s Movement of the 1960s and 1970s and beyond? Given the individual freedoms allowed to certain women, has the American West differed in its application and adherence to Title IX from other regions in the United States? How did UNR respond to the passage of Title IX? How did Clark County iii School District respond to the passage of Title IX? How has Clark County School District complied with Title IX? This study answers these questions through my research and study of Title IX’s history and impact on both UNR and southern Nevada’s high schools. This study demonstrates that women successfully utilized sports as a catalyst to bring about awareness and change within America’s social and cultural landscape, specifically regarding gender equality. Also, the American West’s historical legacy of greater equality and opportunities for women did manifest itself during the nascent years of the women’s sports programs at UNR and CCSD. Although Title IX initially encountered fierce resistance at UNR, the community of Reno, Nevada rallied behind the pioneering efforts of civic and university leaders to help make UNR a leader in gender equity. In addition, CCSD, although initially proactive and accommodating, was later compelled into compliance by a lawsuit and further potential litigation as the challenges of rapid growth (fifth largest school district in the nation) relegated gender equality to the periphery. Yet, once presented with the challenge of providing equal athletic opportunities to its female student body, CCSD acted quickly and deliberately to remedy its gender inequality. This study demonstrates how women utilized sports as a platform from which they made efforts to bring about social changes. Also, this thesis contests that while gender equity in Nevada can be partially attributed to mandated legal action, the history of Title IX at UNR and CCSD is exceptional to the national experience. The innovative and progressive methods used by the community leaders and educational administrators of Reno and Las Vegas to provide equal opportunities often went beyond the mandates of Title IX. Finally, while women have made significant educational and athletic advancements since the passage of Title IX, there remains an enormous gender disparity among head coaches and athletic administrators at the high school and college levels. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS There are many people who inspired me and contributed to this thesis. First, I would like to personally thank my thesis committee: Drs. William Bauer, Mark Padoongpatt, Maria Casas, and Kendra Gage. My interest in this topic stems from years of teaching and coaching in the Las Vegas community. Additionally, as a former high school athlete, I recognize the tremendous benefits of organized sports and interscholastic competition. Organized sports taught me critical lessons and helped me attain valuable attributes that I have helped me throughout my life. I learned through my experiences as an athlete that while I enjoyed the competition, I also the appreciated the value of mentors and coaches, which inspired me to eventually become a teacher and coach. As a new coach, I looked up to colleagues for guidance and direction so that I could be successful in mentoring and helping the youth of Las Vegas achieve both athletic success and become upstanding citizens. Prior to this study, my understanding of Title IX remained limited. In fact, as a male athlete and coach, I felt Title IX constricted my time and opportunities. It was not until 2010, when I was asked by my assistant principal to coach a girls’ flag football team that I recognized how influential and valuable athletic opportunities could be for girls at the high school level. When Clark County School District announced the addition of girls’ flag football as an official varsity sport, I immediately volunteered to be the head coach. My two years as head coach brought me incredible learning experiences and an appreciation for Title IX, as I worked with players, parents, and school administrators to make girls’ flag football successful. I saw first-hand the benefits that my players enjoyed. They learned the value of teamwork, discipline, and dedication, as well as gained new friends and improved their physical fitness. I would like to thank Jim Allen for providing me with my first coaching opportunity in Las Vegas. I also want to thank Jeff Horn for taking a chance on an inexperienced teacher and bringing me on at Green Valley High School. Thank you to my fellow coaches at GVHS for mentoring me and giving me the opportunity to coach, Luthor Bohanon, Brian Castro, Matt Gerber, Jason Rowland, David Torrez, Gordie Ruiz, and Ole Swendson. I would also like to thank my graduate school professors for consulting me and offering their continuous knowledge and support. Thank you, Dr. Maria Casas, for all of your v time and encouragement, I always enjoyed your knowledge of history and sports. Thank you, Dr. Richard White, of UNR for all your help and inspiration. Although I gained a new perspective and appreciation for Title IX, I was not able to choose it as a topic until I met with my professor and graduate coordinator Dr. William Bauer. Thank you again Dr. Bauer for guiding me through this entire process. You have definitively become my most influential faculty member here at UNLV. Thank you for helping me through my Master’s program and this thesis, I could not have done it without you. I want to express my gratitude towards all of you who took the time to meet with me and share with me your personal experiences and opinions to help with the development of this study. Thank you, Emma Johnson, for providing some very personal and important information and a significant piece of my study. Thank you, Coach Erin Hill, for your sharing your personal history, memories, and experiences with Title IX and CCSD, I really enjoyed our interview. Thank you Bonnie Flaagan for providing a look at girls’ sports in Las Vegas before Title IX was passed. Thank you, Dr. Nancy Lough, for your time and assistance. Your familiarity with both of my case studies, as well as your professional insight, added significant value to this thesis. And thank you to Dr. Nancy Hogshead-Makar for providing your perspective and opinions on Title IX and how we can best provide more athletic opportunities for the young women of Las Vegas and the nation.