The U.S. Secretary of Education's Commission on Opportunity in Athletics has scheduled its first public hearing for Aug. 27 and 28 in Atlanta, GA. The meeting will be held at the Wyndham Downtown, 160 Spring Street, N.W.

The purpose of the town hall hearing is to gather input and information about Title IX and equal opportunity in athletics. The hearing will feature testimony from a number of prominent educators and sports administrators.

On June 27, 2002, U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige appointed the Secretary's Commission on Opportunity in Athletics to examine ways to strengthen enforcement and expand opportunities to ensure fairness for all high school, and college athletes. The Atlanta hearing represents the first of four town hall meetings in which the Commission will hear from experts and receive public comment.

By Jan. 31, 2003, the Commission will provide Secretary Paige with findings and recommendations that address the availability of athletic opportunities at the high school and college level.

The Commission is co-chaired by Cynthia Cooper, Chief Executive Officer of the sports marketing company, ProHaven, Inc., and former head coach of the Phoenix Mercury WNBA basketball team, and Ted Leland, director of athletics at Stanford University.

The agenda follows:

August 27 -

9 a.m. - Opening remarks -- William Hansen, Deputy Secretary, U. S. Department of Education; co-chairs Leland and Cooper, and 13 other commission members plus three Ex officio members

9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. - testimony from invited witnesses (listed below)

2 p.m. to 5 p.m. - public comment period

August 28 -

9 a.m. - Crista Leahy, attorney and author presents historical review of Title IX followed by Q and A

10 a.m. to 11 a.m. - testimony from invited witnesses (listed below)

11 a.m. to 1 p.m. - public comment period

HEARING WITNESSES on August 27: 9:30-12:30 p.m.
(Three panels, 5-10 minutes per person with time for Q and A)

Panel One -

• The Honorable Birch Bayh, former U. S. Senator from Indiana, 1963-1981
• Beverly Ledbetter, general counsel, Brown University
• Marcia Greenberger, co-president, National Women's Law Center

Panel Two -

• Leo Kocher, head wrestling coach, University of Chicago
• Christine Grant: associate professor, Department of Health, Leisure and Sports Studies, and former women's athletic director, University of Iowa
• Steve Erber, athletic director, Muhlenberg College, Allentown, Pa. (NCAA Division III)
• Bob Groseth, head coach, men's and women's swimming, Northwestern University

Panel Three -

• Ron Gailmore, national governing board, United States Olympic Committee, gymnastics
• Judith Sweet, vice-president for championships and senior woman administrator, NCAA
• Christine Stolba, Senior Fellow, Independent Women's Forum

HEARING WITNESSES on August 28: 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
(One panel, 5-10 minutes per person with time for Q and A)

• Grant Teaff, executive director, American Football Coaches Association
• Gary Phillips, Georgia High School Athletic Association
• Ron Mirikitani, professor of physical education, St. Louis Community College, Meramec campus
• Teresa Check, athletic director, Central State University

For more information about the Commission please visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/bdscomm/list/athletics/about.html

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