Susan Davis: “Friday morning, many Americans will be getting up early to root for the U.S. Men's Soccer Team, which quite unexpectedly…”

“Friday morning, many Americans will be getting up early to root for the U.S. Men's Soccer Team, which quite unexpectedly has reached the final eight in the World Cup soccer competition. This is the best men's effort in more than 70 years. But who can forget the thrilling matches and win of the U.S. Women's Soccer Team in the 2000 World Cup? We all have visions of the celebratory leaps of joy and the news magazine cover pictures that followed. While the women's success preceded the men's current victories, who can question that this prominence would never have happened in a women's sport had it not been for the passage of title IX, the tradition-breaking measure that said women deserve an equal opportunity to excel according to their talents, not their opportunity? I am honored to speak in celebration of this 30th anniversary of title IX to the education amendments of 1972 at this podium following the distinguished gentlewoman from Hawaii (Mrs. Mink), who has been a champion of the implementation of title IX for many years, monitoring, nurturing, and nudging its realization.”