Posted on Friday, January 28, 2022
Photo caption: From right, Terylynn Olds, Director of Athletics and Recreation; Melanie Rushing, Associate Athletics Director and Head Softball Coach; and Ivy Grant, Assistant to the Athletic Director.
In 1973, it was billed as the “Battle of the Sexes.”
Tennis star Billie Jean King, then 29, had been fighting for fair compensation for women athletes and testified on Capitol Hill in 1972 on behalf of Title IX – a civil rights law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in any school or other education program that receives funding from the federal government
Former champ and self-proclaimed chauvinist Bobby Riggs, 55, claimed the women’s game was inferior to the men’s and challenged King to a tennis match that was viewed by 90 million people worldwide. King defeated Riggs 6-4, 6-4, 6-3.
Terylynn Olds, Director of Athletics and Recreation, remembers her “lightbulb moment” when she learned about the importance of Title IX.
“During my junior year in college, I heard a former basketball player/coach share her story of playing before Title IX was passed,” she said. “Hearing her story lit a fire in my soul that motivated me to learn more about Title IX and women’s equality in sport. That day opened my eyes and changed me forever.”
To that end, Olds has organized the college’s inaugural National Girls and Women in Sports Day that will be marked Feb. 2, the 50th anniversary of Title IX. Panther Athletics has planned several activities during the month to mark the occasion.
All current female student-athletes have signed a poster commemorating the day and will present it to Felecia Moore, Archives Specialist for Suber Archives in Lewis Library, during halftime of the women’s basketball game Feb. 5. An exhibit on the history of LC female athletes will be presented in the lobby of Turner Hall on Feb. 15.
Two Cultural Enrichment events have been scheduled. A film about Billie Jean King will be shown on Feb. 10 and a forum featuring two female members of the LC Sports Hall of Fame will be Feb. 15. Dr. Judy Greer ’57 H’07, who was instrumental in starting the intercollegiate basketball program while still a freshman at LC. The M. Judith Greer Tennis Courts are named in her honor. Also appearing will be Mavis Trice ’60, who also played basketball. Greer and Trice were the first women inducted into the college’s Sports Hall of Fame.
Today, five women are in leadership positions in Panther Athletics – Olds; Moneshia McKenney, Head Women’s Indoor and Beach Volleyball Coach; Ivy Grant, Assistant to the Athletics Director and Recreation Coordinator; Nicole Joseph, Head Cheerleading Coach; and Melanie Rushing, Associate Athletics Director and Head Softball Coach.
McKenney said she played basketball and volleyball in high school, and Title IX has played a huge role in her success.
“I appreciate any and every opportunity I have been awarded to play/coach the sport I enjoy,” she said. “Protecting the rights of female coaches and players has been a huge impact from the Title IX process. I am very thankful for the ones who have come before and after me.”
Olds is passionate about the rights guaranteed by the 1972 legislation.
“Prior to Title IX, we were not considered capable enough to serve as an athletic trainer and our bodies were not believed to be strong enough to play competitive sports. We could only play basketball at half-court,” she said. “All our female coaches, athletic trainers and student-athletes are here working and competing because of Title IX.”
Lamar Dodd Art Center is hosting “Continuity and Change: The Artist as Students” through Feb. 11. It features a selection of art from 1963-2021 alumni. The center is open 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday-Thursday. For more information, contact Lanora Yates, Gallery Manager and Curator, at lyates@kongtiao11.com or 706-880-8211.
The Black Male Initiative and Circle K Club helped gather 40 coats, several large bags of clothing and many new hand-knitted hats and scarves for the Kiwanis Club’s Coats for Kids drive. The items will be delivered to the local clothing center.
Dr. John Tures, Professor of Political Science, delivered two papers virtually for the Georgia Political Science Association conference in November. The first was with research by Erik Moran and Chase Davis titled “Does Partisanship ‘Trump’ Policy Preferences? Assessing Peoples’ Attitudes on Domestic & Foreign Policy, As Well As Vaccination Rates.” The other presentation by Dr. Tures was titled “Go West, Young Liberals! How The Critical Election Of 1992 Pioneered a Win Streak For the Democrats.”
The best way to experience LaGrange College as a prospective student is in person. Individual family tours are available at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. weekdays. Use this form to schedule your personal look at LaGrange. For a Saturday visit, the next Preview Day is Feb. 26. To sign up, visit here. Contact the Admission Office at admission@kongtiao11.com with any questions.
Men’s Basketball The Panthers (8-9, 3-1 USA South) stunned Piedmont 74-71 in overtime on the road Thursday night. LC trailed 62-40 with 5:39 left in the game. Bershard Edwards had 15 points and forced the overtime with a 3-pointer with six seconds left. Kyle Brown had a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds.
Women’s Basketball
The Panthers (11-7, 6-3 USA South) lost 96-57 at Piedmont last Saturday. Junior Breonna Glover had a career-high 16 points for LC.
Calendar
(Please note that schedules may change due to circumstances beyond our control. Please check www.lagrangepanthers.com to confirm.)
Saturday
Men’s Basketball vs. Berea, Mariotti Gym, 2 p.m.
Sunday
Men’s Basketball vs. Brevard, Mariotti Gym, 1 p.m.
Men’s Lacrosse (doubleheader) vs. Reinhardt, Auburn, Panther Field, noon/6 p.m.
Tuesday
Women's Basketball at Wesleyan, Macon, Ga., 6 p.m.
3 – Stacy Jackson
4 – Jeff Lukken
7 – Susan Mansour
9 – Moneshia McKenney
12 – Rob Dicks
13 – Terylynn Olds
21 – Don Livingston
22 – Bobbie Jo Otto
28 – Siri Emereje
The 12th season of 3D Journeys lectures began this week with “Boston’s Faneuil Hall: The Cradle of Liberty,” a 38-minute talk by Dr. Richard Soash, Assistant Professor of History. This is the first in a three-lecture series presented January-March in Callaway Auditorium on the LaGrange College campus.
Category: Faculty, Students, College, Events
Keywords: Title IX women sports student-athletes
