As the Hofstra University Department of Athletics celebrates the 50th anniversary of the passing of Title IX, we will honor, acknowledge, and inform our University community about some of the members of the Pride who helped make a difference at Hofstra and paved the way for today's current student-athletes, coaches, administrators, and teams. Leading up the the June 23 anniversary of the passage of Title IX, Hofstra Athletics will feature many individuals who played a role in enacting change or those whose experiences at Hofstra were enhanced by the efforts of those who came before them.

Title IX is a federal civil rights law in the United States of America that was passed as part (Title IX) of the Education Amendments of 1972. It prohibits sex-based discrimination in any school or other education program that receives funding from the federal government. 

Please consider a gift to celebrate and support the 50th anniversary of Title IX! All proceeds from this campaign will go directly towards our Hofstra Athletics Pride Club account for women's athletics. 

Our next feature is a Q&A with Linda Wing Caruso, a dual-sport student-athlete in field hockey and women's lacrosse, who played for the Pride from 1974 through 1978.

Q: How would your experience in pre-Title IX college athletics shape who you became today?
A: So I was sort of at the tail end of Title IX becoming more prevalent in women's sports. I have one brother, and we are about 15 months apart. He got a job in high school umpiring little league baseball, and I said 'why can't I?' I eventually got a job because of equality, so I was one of the first on that list of female umpires from Glen Cove.

When I came to Hofstra, I was a walk-on student-athlete. After a year, I applied for a scholarship, and I remember them telling me that they would give me $250, and at the time, I thought it was terrific. But then when I heard what the football players were getting, I thought 'ok, there's a bit of a discrepancy here'. However, I knew there was not going to be a lot of support coming my way with that fight, so I was very thankful to accept what I was given at the time.

I graduated and entered the business world, eventually taking a job on Wall Street. My brother looked at me and went 'how can you take such little pay for your job,' but I needed to learn the skills of what I wanted to do and this was how it needed to happen. I ended up working in several jobs on Wall Street for 12 years, but that was the beginning of where I felt that I needed to value myself as a woman, and not just be happy with what I was given.

And that continued from the business world into the world of athletics, where I coached field hockey and girls lacrosse at Manhasset High School for many years, and when I started coaching boys high school ice hockey. I am certified to be coaching on the bench, and I am probably one of the only women coaches in the Section VIII public schools.

Q: Was there a person or group of people who served as a role model to you while you were a student-athlete and helped you become the person you are today?
A: Obviously, Dr. Nathalie Smith was my real mentor, as a coach and as a friend to her still. She really taught me a lot, just by watching the way she operated and where she is today. When I was coaching in high school, be it field hockey or lacrosse, I found myself using her words. There were words that she used that were so old school that the kids would look at me and not have a clue what I was talking about. But, it was part of her vocabulary, and it made so much more sense for me to say it the way she said it because that's what was needed.

As a teammate, it was definitely Cindy Lewis. We had a lot of laughs, a lot of wins and losses as well, but there a lot of laughs. I cannot even remember all the people I played with, because I was a commuter and I did not live on campus, and as the years go by you stick closer to those who you were around more. So Cindy has been side-by-side with me throughout everything, which has been tremendous, and for her to reach out to me and ask if I wanted to help out with field hockey was great.

Q: Since your time as a student-athlete at Hofstra and as a coach, you have given back to Hofstra in so many ways, as a member of the Hofstra Athletics Pride Club and working Hofstra athletic events. Why has it been so important to give back to Hofstra?
A: I feel like since I was a commuter, and had a great time at Hofstra and built a nice relationship with the University, that giving back was so easy for me to do. My husband is so supportive, and my kids are incredibly supportive of Hofstra and me being so involved with Hofstra; they loved going to Hofstra games. When they were babies, I would bring my kids and place them in a backpack pouch on the sideline while there was an alumni game going on.

I just enjoy games and going to events. I feel like Hofstra has been the place for me to give back and support as much as I can.

Q: Women's athletics at Hofstra has flourished over the decades since the implementation of Title IX. As a former student-athlete here and a supporter of Hofstra athletics, how does it feel to see Hofstra have successful women's athletics programs?
A: It is great. In Port Washington, there are a lot of Hofstra grads. So when you run across them, they'll always bring up Hofstra athletics and talk about their teams, so it's great to know that women's athletics at Hofstra has really come through with attracting great athletes. I think people around here, if they cannot always make it to a game, follow the programs so closely, and that is so important. I am proud of these women bringing Hofstra's name to the forefront.