Phillip Whitten is trying to say that there were as much womens programs in swimming than men's programs in the 1970's and early 1980's. I disagree for one, many women that are just a few years older than me didn't swim in college. For starters top swimmers like Laurie Val in her early 50's didn't swim in colllege. There were a lot less programs for women than the male swimmers and only a few women got scholorships to swim in college. Also, I swam at the Community College level and a year before I started they just added 100 yard swims for women in back, fly and ***. They the California JR's still don't have the 200 yard distances but the women voted to keep the 50 distances instead. The male swimmers at the community college had two practices a day during their prime workout season while the women had one when I swam back in the 1970's. The male swimmers had state while the women's program added state after I left. I understand Mr Whitten being upset about elminating men's programs but that doesn't excuse him for changing history and stating that women had as many programs as the men did by 1981.
Gareth,
Thanks for pointing out what may be the article in question. However, I didn’t see any quotes or opinions from Phil Whitten in any of the text of the Swiminfo.com article.
Cindy, do you have another source for your allegations against Mr. Whitten?
As a college student in the 70’s I had the opportunity to walk-on to an average mid-western Division 1 swim team and while I was never a great swimmer, I was able to compete and make a number of life long friends. College swimming was also a springboard for me getting into masters swimming.
I readily admit that in the mid-70’s this opportunity was not equal for men and women. However, I have met very few people who feel that men’s programs today should pay a penalty for past inequalities. I assume, most people would prefer the opportunities we had in the 70’s should still be available today, for men and women alike. This is not the case, at least for men’s swimming. My son, currently a high school junior and a much better swimmer then I ever was in high school, has little to no chance of swimming on a Division 1 team (with or without a scholarship).
Now we can’t turn back the clock and give Laura Val a college scholarship, she seems to be doing OK without it. But we can work to make our sport better for men and women alike, by fighting to keep existing programs, reopening those programs that have been cut, and looking for opportunities to expand into new areas. This is not only true for college swimming, but age group, high school and Masters.
Gareth,
Thanks for pointing out what may be the article in question. However, I didn’t see any quotes or opinions from Phil Whitten in any of the text of the Swiminfo.com article.
Cindy, do you have another source for your allegations against Mr. Whitten?
As a college student in the 70’s I had the opportunity to walk-on to an average mid-western Division 1 swim team and while I was never a great swimmer, I was able to compete and make a number of life long friends. College swimming was also a springboard for me getting into masters swimming.
I readily admit that in the mid-70’s this opportunity was not equal for men and women. However, I have met very few people who feel that men’s programs today should pay a penalty for past inequalities. I assume, most people would prefer the opportunities we had in the 70’s should still be available today, for men and women alike. This is not the case, at least for men’s swimming. My son, currently a high school junior and a much better swimmer then I ever was in high school, has little to no chance of swimming on a Division 1 team (with or without a scholarship).
Now we can’t turn back the clock and give Laura Val a college scholarship, she seems to be doing OK without it. But we can work to make our sport better for men and women alike, by fighting to keep existing programs, reopening those programs that have been cut, and looking for opportunities to expand into new areas. This is not only true for college swimming, but age group, high school and Masters.
