Harvard committee examines gender and race equity in sports

Harvard Crimson (U-WIRE) CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- After a year-long study of the Harvard Department of Athletics, the University released a report last month calling for continued efforts to reduce minority and gender inequalities within the College sports programs. Outlining the state of athletics at Harvard, the report cited improvements in the department's policies toward women and minorities but suggested further reforms in its recruitment and employment processes. As part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association's (NCAA) Division I certification process, a select group of administrators, faculty and students began its evaluation of Harvard athletics in the fall of 1996. Dean of the College Harry R. Lewis '68 chaired the steering committee for the evaluation. Lewis was in New York and was not available for comment yesterday. Organized into four subcommittees on academic integrity; governance and rules compliance; fiscal integrity and commitment to equity, participants in the self-study examined many different aspects of Harvard athletics. The 145-page report, which chronicles subcommittee findings and recommendations, has been submitted to the NCAA for evaluation by a Peer Review Committee in March. According to Associate Dean of the College Thomas A. Dingman '67, the report is a good way for the University to gauge whether it is on the right track. "It's given us an opportunity to ensure that our policies are in compliance and that we're doing things in an efficient way that people understand," Dingman said. Overall, Dingman said that the most interesting findings came from the Commitment to Equity Subcommittee, chaired by Barbara J. Grosz, Gordon McKay professor of computer science. Grosz was unavailable for comment yesterday. Between November 1996 and May 1997, the subcommittee met seven times to examine all aspects of women's athletics at Harvard.