Hofstra University Athletics

Hofstra Athletics And Title IX: A Celebration Of Who We Are

Over the next few months, the Hofstra University Department of Athletics will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the passing of Title IX as we honor, acknowledge, and inform our University community about some of the members of the Pride who helped make a difference here at Hofstra and paved the way for today's current student-athletes, coaches, administrators, and teams to reap the benefits of those who fought so hard for their rights. We will also showcase members of the Hofstra family who have benefited from Title IX here at Hofstra. 

Title IX was passed on June 23, 1972, and leading up to that date Hofstra Athletics will feature a number of individuals who played a role in enacting change or those whose experiences at Hofstra were enhanced by the work of others. 

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. 

February 25 - Dr. Sylvia Giallombardo
March 2 - Dr. Nathalie Smith
March 9 - Linda Wing Caruso
March 11 - Maria Grasso
March 17 - Fran Kalafer
March 25 - Bill Edwards
April 1 - Sydni Epps
April 8 - Dr. Beth Rosenberg and Stephanie Clarke
April 22 - Eve Atkinson
April 29 - Crystal Boyd
May 6 - Erin McDermott
May 13 - Simon Riddiough
May 20 - Anne Marie Anderson
May 27 - Elizabeth O'Brien
June 3 - JoAnne Russell
June 10 - Tracey Ant
June 17 - Cindy Lewis 
June 27 - Dr. James M. and Marjorie Strunk Shuart

HOFSTRA AND TITLE IX - A FEW OF OUR MANY PROUD MOMENTS!
 

Early Women’s Sports
Women’s Athletics at Hofstra is nearly as old as the University itself. Pictured here are the 1938 women’s tennis team as well as sports leaders from other Hofstra women’s teams. 
 

Edith Gallagher
Edith Gallagher was Hofstra’s first female All-American when she earned Honorable Mention accolades from the National Field Hockey Coaches Association in 1989.

Crystal Boyd
Softball All-American Crystal Boyd was at the forefront of Hofstra’s success in the sport and led the nation in batting in 1992.  
 

First Team All-American
Bridget Eder of the women’s lacrosse team is one of three First Team All-Americans in Hofstra history. She is joined by Olivia Galati (softball) and Lucy Porter (women’s soccer).

1992 Women’s Soccer Team
One of the most recent sport additions, forming in 1992, the Hofstra women’s soccer program has quickly become one of the Pride’s most successful teams with nine NCAA Tournament appearances.

2006 Volleyball Team
The 2006 volleyball team won the Colonial Athletic Association championship and recorded the first NCAA Tournament victory in program history when they defeated Cornell in the first round at Penn State.
 

1981-82 Women’s Basketball Team
Led by Coach Harvey Pyser, the 1981-82 women's basketball team posted a school record 27 victories and was the Metropolitan Conference Champions. The team then won the Eastern AIAW Division II Championship Tournament to earn a berth in the AIAW National Championship. The 1981-82 season was Hofstra’s last AIAW year before becoming a NCAA Division I program in 1982-83.

Hilarie Cranmer
Hilarie Cranmer was the first female Academic All-American in Hofstra history, earning the honor in 1986 and 1987. In 2006, Cranmer was inducted into the CoSIDA Academic All-America Hall of Fame. In 2007, she was a Hofstra Athletics Hall of Fame inductee.
 

Three Pillars
Three of the pillars of Title IX at Hofstra University are Dr. Sylvia J. Giallombardo, Executive Associate Director of Athletics Cindy Lewis, and Dr. Nathalie J. Smith. Dr. Giallombardo was the director of women’s athletics when Title IX was passed and helped develop the women’s athletic program during her tenure. Dr. Nathalie J. Smith served as head coach of the field hockey, volleyball and women’s lacrosse programs during her tenure and led the latter two from club status to intercollegiate teams in the mid 1970’s. Lewis was a field hockey and lacrosse student-athlete at Hofstra in the late 1970’s, and coached both sports as well before becoming an athletic administrator. The three are pictured here with Hofstra Vice President and Director of Athletics Rick Cole Jr.
 

Pro Athletes
Numerous women’s athletes have gone on to professional careers in their respective sports following their time at Hofstra. The most recent is Lucy Porter, who recently signed with Lewes FC in England.
 

Olivia Galati
Olivia Galati pitched the softball team to within one game of the College World Series in 2012 and was a two-time All-American and a one-time Academic All-American.

LEARN MORE ABOUT TITLE IX...

TITLE IX STATES:
No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any educational program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.

What Is Title IX?
•    Title IX, of the Education Amendments of 1972, is a federal civil rights law that says no institution of higher education can discriminate against anybody on the basis of their sex and gender. Initially drafted to ensure equal opportunities for women in sports, today Title IX applies to all forms of sexual harassment and assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking.
Why is Title IX Important?
•    Title IX doesn’t just apply to undergraduate students — faculty, graduate students, staff, and visitors are also protected under the law. The antidiscrimination law also applies to public and private elementary schools, secondary schools, and school districts. 
•    The law also does not just apply to female students. It also prohibits discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation, which is important for students who identify as LGBT.
•    Title IX obligates universities to disclose all of the options and resources available to students. 
•    Title IX recognizes all students have the right to due process. The guidance directs universities to balance being as supportive as possible to the student who has experienced the incident while being fair to the person who is reported and honoring their right to due process. 
•    The Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights enforces Title IX.

Title IX has greatly benefited women and girls
•    In 1972, 30,000 women participated in collegiate sports, as compared to 170,000 men.
•    Now, more than 150,000 women are in college sports, which still isn’t as much as men had in 1972!
•    In high schools, girls’ sports participation grew from 295,000 in 1972 to more than 3.4 million today.

Does Title IX require schools to take away from men to give to women?
•    Never.
•    Title IX is an anti-discrimination statute.
•    Cutting a men’s sport is a legally permissible choice, not a requirement.
•    Schools may choose how to comply with this non-discrimination mandate.
•    Schools can either bring up the formerly disadvantaged group OR Schools can bring a formerly advantaged group down.