Kansas Athletics welcomed back alumni this weekend to celebrate 40 years of women’s athletics at the University. The induction of Marlene Mawson to the Kansas Athletics Hall of Fame and the Kansas Rowing boathouse dedication highlighted the weekend.

“It’s a great opportunity to take time to remember the individuals who paved the way for the opportunities that today’s student athletes get,” Associate Athletics Director Jim Marchiony said. “The opportunity to compete, to travel, the academic support, all of that has improved over the last four decades and this is a good opportunity to recognize that.”

Marchiony said there were many positives that accompanied female participation in athletics that weren’t just confined to a physical nature.

“From an intellectual perspective to a personal growth perspective, athletics has been important to millions of females,” Marchiony said. “I think in several ways Title IX was hugely important legislation because it awakened everyone to the need to provide opportunities to female students.”

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 was a law passed that stated, “No person in the United States shall be denied benefits or be discriminated against under any education program on the basis of sex.”

Mawson became the 18th woman inducted into the Hall of Fame, joining the likes of other KU coaches, Marian Washington, Sharon Drysdale and Teri Anderson. During her years with the women’s athletics program, Mawson was the head coach of multiple sports including volleyball, basketball, softball, tennis and field hockey.

While at the University, Mawson received the nickname, “Mother of KU Women’s Athletics.”

Stevie Crisosto, Palo Cedro, Calif., senior on the softball team, said she was grateful to women’s athletics because she was getting a great education in return. Crisosto said her move to Kansas would not have been possible without the opportunity Kansas Athletics provided her.

“I use athletics as a stepping stone to get everything out of it and gain as much experience and knowledge as I can,” Crisosto said. “Then using it to my advantage when I go into the workforce.”

In addition to the athletic experience, Crisosto said athletics had many other benefits for the women involved.

“Having the confidence and also just the skills that athletics gives you like time management,” Crisosto said. “You learn how to be responsible. You learn how to be disciplined and you also learn to be hard-working.”

Softball coach Tracy Bunge was inducted into the Kansas Athletics Hall of Fame as an athlete in 1987. Bunge, who played four years of softball at the University, said she had seen a growth of opportunities for women in athletics throughout the past 35 to 40 years.

“I am so grateful for the people who came before Title IX in women’s sports,” Bunge said. “You look at women’s sports starting when they did 40 years ago: they weren’t funded hardly at all, they were an afterthought, and then Title IX hit all of a sudden and as a result of that, we are where we are today.”

Katie Brosious, Keller, Texas, senior, rower, witnessed the improved facilities for women’s sports during the past four years. Brosious said the boathouse was a prime example.

“The boathouse was being built around the same time the new football facility was built so I think this is one example that men’s and women’s sports are equaling out,” Brosious said. “I think this is probably the biggest example because this was the biggest step that the Athletics Department had taken for a women’s team in a long time.”

In addition to the facilities, other upgrades have been made to improve women’s athletics. Bunge said when she arrived as coach, the salaries for coaches were some of the lowest in the Big 12, but had improved greatly.

“We’ve seen a growth obviously in facility improvements, financial growth and the commitment of the Athletics Department and the University to all women’s sports,” Bunge said.

— — Edited by Realle Roth