Gala Luncheon Features Discussion on Women and Sports10:05AM / Tuesday, March 16, 2010
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Gala Restaurant in the Orchards Hotel is hosting a luncheon and forum from noon to 2 on Title IX on Thursday, March 18, to celebrate Women's History Month.
Enacted by Congress in 1972, the Title IX education amendment called for equal access to sports for both boys and girls in public schools and private schools receiving federal funds. A panel of college athletic directors and coaches will discuss the affects of the legislation locally and nationally.
The panel will include Deb Raber, head soccer coach at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts; Chris Cruz, former head coach of Williams College's women's crew, and Lisa Melendy, assistant athletic director at Williams. They will also take questions from the audience.
Raber holds a bachelor of science in elementary education from Green Mountain College, from which she graduated magna cum laude. She also holds a master's of education from Springfield College. In 2007, she was named MASCAC Coach of the Year and has received the Silver Award from the NSCAA Ethics Committee from 2002-2005 and again in 2007.
Cruz graduated from the University of Wisconsin at Madison with a bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering and earned her master's in education from MCLA and a doctorate in education from the University of Albany, specializing in qualitative research in education, gender and sports, feminist theory, and social justice research. She coached the crew team Williams for 12 years and her book, "Gender Games: Why Women Coaches Are Losing The Field," published in March 2009, examines the gendered dynamic of college athletic departments and the tensions that it creates for female coaches.
Melendy was head coach of women's soccer at Williams from 1985 to 2001 and has also coached women's lacrosse and women's squash. During her years as head coach, she compiled an impressive record of 195-55-21 (.758). Under Melendy, the Ephs won the 1989 Northeast Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title, the 1990 and 1997 ECAC-New England titles and were a NCAA semifinalist in 1999. She coached 19 All-Americans and one Rhodes Scholar at Williams.
Buffet lunch and discussion is $15.95 per person plus taxes and gratuity. Reservations are strongly recommended by contacting Brian Flagg, Gala Restaurant & Bar, 413-458-9611, Ext. 531, or brian@galarestaurant.com. |
