As a college professor, my classes are filled with top-caliber athletes: football players, baseball players, cheerleaders, and more. By far, the athletes with the most grueling training schedule are the rowers, especially the female athletes.

And unfortunately, they also, by far, had the worst athletic facilities available, with access only to a rotting boat house and a few hand weights.

The men's facilities were new and shiny, although their record was far below the females'.

The University of Cincinnati has finally recognized the worth of their women's rowing team, and has responded with a 650,000 award to build a new training site.

Unfortunately, it took a law suit by the women to force the school to recognize the unfair practices.

In their lawsuit, the women's crew team alleged that the university spends millions of dollars on equipment, staff and facilities for men's sports while shortchanging women's sports.

The university awarded $1 million more on scholarships for men's athletics than for women's during the previous academic year, according to the lawsuit filed in November in U.S. District Court.

The rowers said the school was violating Title IX, the 1972 law that bars sex discrimination in any educational program receiving federal funds. They sought equipment and the construction of a boathouse, along with other, unspecified damages.
Still, this is a major victory for women's sports teams, that even today, receive shabby treatment when compared to men's sports.

What is it like at your school? Are all athletes treated equally and fairly?

(Photo Source: Villanova)