WBCA Stands with the NABC

I received this press release yesterday from the Women's Basketball Coaches Association. To my knowledge, I haven't heard this issue discussed very much on a state or national level. This issue is something to think about...

ATLANTA - The Board of Directors of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) has joined the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) in recognizing the importance of affirmative action programs in expanding opportunities for underrepresented minorities and women in university admissions and employment.

Both the WBCA and the NABC Board of Directors firmly oppose the deceptively-titled "Civil Rights Initiatives" currently being proposed in Arizona, Colorado and Nebraska that if enacted, would threaten access programs in those states.

"Women have made many gains through affirmative action policies, especially in the areas of college admission and university employment; however women are still underrepresented on university faculties," said WBCA President Sherri Coale, head women's basketball coach at the University of Oklahoma. "The passage of this very regressive legislation will seriously impede the advancement of women and minorities at the university level. Administrations at state universities will be prevented from having the kinds of programs they have used since the sixties to enhance the enrollment of women in contexts where women are underrepresented as compared to their male counterparts."

"This proposal would place at risk outreach and access programs that exist for women in science, technology, engineering and math for the states in question," said WBCA CEO Beth Bass. "It would also be a double blow for minority women if this misleading initiative is passed in Nebraska, Colorado and Arizona."

The Board encourages WBCA members and the public in those states to vote against any such initiative if it appears on the ballot.

If anyone has more information about this issue to share, please add your comments.