Student body must become more aware of Title IX program, officer position as resource

There is an uninformed notion surrounding the purpose of Title IX.

The Title IX law is commonly known to involve athletics, but students should be aware of its depth beyond the athletic field. The law provides more than just equality in athletic programs and plays a role in our everyday lives.

Title IX, founded in 1972, provides no mention of athletics, and prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex at federally funded schools. The law further promotes diversity and equality at Syracuse University across various boundaries.

Title IX encompasses 10 components, including access to higher education, career education, education for pregnant and parenting students, learning environment, math and science, sexual harassment, standardized testing, technology and employment.

Cynthia Maxwell Curtin is SU’s Title IX compliance officer and ensures the university complies with and carries out gender equality. Curtin has now held her position for one year, and should better promote awareness of her position and details of Title IX.

This way, students can better understand the law’s purpose of creating gender equality on campus. If students are aware of Curtin’s role, they could be more likely to use her as a campus resource.

The university should do more to expose Curtin’s role during events such as parents’ weekend and orientation week. Once her role is more profoundly recognized, students will view Title IX more seriously than as just an athletic pursuit.

Syracuse University is in compliance with Title IX and has improved its awareness of the law. For the 2013 freshman orientation, The Office of First-Year and Transfer programs implemented a new online alcohol education program called Think About It, a Title IX program that includes a lesson on sexual assault.

This marks a positive step in the right direction by the university. To continue progress with Title IX, SU and Curtin must work to make her presence more available on campus, as her role fosters a climate of opportunity, inclusion and diversity at SU.