Hutz | Representing Title IX in sports media

"You. I'm glad to see you here," Cindy Shmerler said as she pointed directly at me.

I was confused. It took a moment for me to realize why Cindy had singled out me. It was The Daily Pennsylvanian's annual Marquez Conference in the fall of 2007 and Cindy, serving as a panelist, and I were the only two females sitting in the room for the sports writing session.

I didn't want to be called different, though. I didn't want to be singled out because of my gender. I didn't think that it should really mean anything in the grand scheme of the sports writing world.

But I was wrong.

When I began writing sports for the DP during the fall of my freshman year, I was torn about how I should act. Should I champion women's sports and work to increase the breadth and depth of their coverage? Or did I have to try and prove myself, in a sense, by showing that I could cover a men's sport, which still dominated the mainstream media?

I was going to try and find a place between the two and my attempts defined much of my remaining time at the DP.

I wound up covering women's lacrosse and field hockey my freshman year and the first semester of sophomore year, respectively, partially by choice and partially by the randomness of the beat selection process.

In the natural progression of things at the DP, the senior writers usually wind up covering football and men's basketball. They are the beats that most people look forward to, and I fell in the same line.

I never wanted to flap my arms and demand more attention for the women's teams. I don't think you earn respect by making a show, but rather through actions and hard work.

Being a female sports editor at the DP for a year put me in a position to enact change; regrettably readers' preferences didn't permit that.

Over 35 years after the passage of Title IX, men's basketball or football still runs as the lead story nearly every Friday preview day and Monday recap day. I understand now that this was the reason that Cindy thought it was so important for me to recognize my role as a female sports editor.

I was told that this was the news people wanted to read. But maybe if the layout was switched up a little people would be exposed to different women's sports and become interested.

It can be said that women might not need to prove themselves as athletes and as capable sports writers anymore. But throughout my time at the DP, I learned that sports-viewing and -reading habits need to change for real progress to be made for women's sports.

* * *

I never would have had any of those experiences if it weren't for the following people that I need to thank:

First of all, thanks to my parents for their constant support and faith in me.

Also, I'd never be the person I am today without the rest of my crazy family. With five children in the house, there was always something to do and someone there for me.

Andrew and Sebastien, thanks for putting up with me when I had every headline checked out and it took 45 minutes to write one mediocre headline.

Lastly, I'd like to dedicate my final column to the memory of my pop-pop, who passed away last year. Forever proud of his oldest granddaughter, he always enjoyed reading my articles in the DP clippings I would send him.

Krista Hutz is a 2009 College graduate from Philadelphia and is former Sports Editor of The Daily Pennsylvanian. Her e-mail address is hutz@dailypennsylvanian.com.

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