Dear Stanford Family,
Forty-four years ago today, head coach Anne Gould and the Cardinal women's tennis team defeated USC in Salisbury, Md. to claim Stanford's first women's varsity national championship of the Title IX era. It is remarkable to think of how far the efforts to bring equality between our men's and women's sports programs have come since those days, and so much of that progress is due to Title IX, which prohibits federally funded educational institutions from discriminating on the basis of sex. As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of Title IX on June 23, it is important to reflect on the enormous national changes that have been brought forth as a result of this groundbreaking legislation.
Here at Stanford, Title IX has served as a catalyst to push ourselves towards women's sports excellence. With more team and individual national championships than any other institution, the women's sports success experienced here on The Farm has been unparalleled. We are also incredibly proud of what our female student-athletes have achieved after they leave Stanford, whether that be representing their country in the Olympics, continuing their athletic career in professional sports or transitioning into a life built around their passions beyond sport.
To honor a few of these remarkable achievements in women's athletics, we have decided to induct the first ever all-female class into the Stanford Athletics Hall of Fame this September. The annual Stanford Athletics Hall of Fame induction ceremony honors the best-of-the-best in Cardinal athletics, and this year we plan to transform the event into a celebration of the women's sports excellence seen throughout many decades here at Stanford.
The achievements that our female student-athletes have made during the Title IX era is truly inspiring. However, as we reflect on the deep history of women's sports success here at Stanford, we also know that the work for equality is not finished. Earlier this year, we commissioned an independent gender equity review and we look forward to better understanding the ways we can ensure equal opportunities for the student-athletes competing in our women's sports programs.
Additionally, I am pleased to share that we will be announcing fundraising initiatives which will further advance the funding of women's sports at Stanford, as well as new events to honor the women's sports history at Stanford.
We know we have a long way to go to reach true equality. I am thankful for the opportunity to reflect on the progress that has been made here at Stanford and to use this anniversary as a catalyst for further change. As we celebrate the incredible achievements of the Cardinal's women's sports programs of the past, we are committed to strengthening Stanford's position of leadership in women's sports, and to providing an unrivaled opportunity for current and future Cardinal student-athletes to pursue their dreams while inspiring other young women to do the same.
Go Cardinal,
Bernard Muir
Stanford University
Jaquish & Kenninger Director of Athletics
