V
V V
' y
Lincoln girls'
basketball
may dribble
into schools
By Dianne Barry
They want to play basketball and represent the i t
high schools in interscholastic play. This goal
shouldn't be difficult to attain, since almost every
Nebraska high school has a basketball program.
However, in the Lincoln Public Schools this has
been difficult, at least for girls.
The Lincoln schools currently have no girls'
interscholastic basketball program, but the situation
looks as though it will change, perhaps as soon as
next year.
At a Tuesday Lincoln Board of Education
meeting, about 75 persons-most of them high school
girls-supported a student-parent request to form a
committee to draft a proposal for git Is' interscholastic
basketball.
The request was granted, and a committee
comprised of students, parents, coaches and boaid
members will be announced at the Dec. 11 board
meeting, president John Lux said.
"Of all the expansions for girls' proyidms,
basketball is one of the most difficult, but that
doesn't mean it's impossible or t h o t we shouldn't
work on it," Superintendent John Prasch said. He
said some girls had approached him eailier about a
girls' basketball program, but that he "didn't
encourage them much."
According to Christie Oswald, a Lincoln High
Senior, there are 66 Nebraska high schools that now
have such a program.
But it was only a few years ago that the Nebraska
State Activities Association (NSAA) wiped out a rule
which outlawed girls' basketball programs.
Many of the girls at the meeting already play or
have played basketball for city business teams, but
they said there are more advantages in playing for
high schools.
Sarah Boslaugh, Lincoln East senior, said a
school-supported team could take over many of the
expenses private team members have had to pay.
Boslaugh, a former member of the Roberts Dairy
'team, said whenthe played, team members had to
' drive to gamw'Wid practice sessions, which v.em.' held
in Omaha because the team was unable lo find gym
space in Lincoln. They had to pay for their own
uniforms and had no team insurance', she said.
"In Lincoln, the recreation league has gym space,
but it's blocked up, and you can't use the school
gyms unless you pay," she said.
Why don't the Lincoln public schools have girls'
interscholastic basketball now?
"Apparently, they thought the interest wasn't
there," she said. She has l;en playing girls' basketljall
since ninth grade.
"I just pu t up a notice on the bulletin board and
got people out of the physical education classes to
join," she said.
Th RolxMts team finished sixth in the national
tournament last year. The tournament was won by
a Mississippi girls' boarding school team that
practiced three hours a day, she said.
If the girls played foi high schools, she said, they
couldn't play in the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU.
"A disadvantage might be that it would pit
schools against each other in a new area, while now
there is no pressure there," she said. '
"As a senior, I won't get anything out of it. I don't
even have a sister I can watch play, except I would
like to be a coach sometime," Boslaugh said.
Girls' athletic programs now exist in gymnastics,
swimming, track and field and volleyball in Lincoln
public schools.
In the girls' list of demands at the boaid meeting,
they asked for a full progiam to begin next lail with
varsity, reserve and sophomoie teams, including
enough money foi a qualified coach, equipment and
gym time.
The committee formed will provide the (ward with
the proposed program and budgeting data in time for
board consideration in the drafting of the 1974-75
budget.
"Basically, all we want is to have our chance to use
the facilities of the schools, just like any other team,"
Boslaugh said.
The girls had taken surveys at the high schools. Al
Lincoln High alone, 180 girls said "yes" to a question
asking if they would try out for a girls' basketball
team. Only 12 members are required for one team,
Boslaugh said.
The girls said they asked the National Organization
of Women (NOW) for help in setting up their request
for a committee.
Local NOW representative Ellie Shore said in
researching for the girls, she came across a case
involving setting up a girls' golf program at Norfolk
High School.
Debbie Reed, a senior, and her father were
plaintiffs vs. the NSAA. The plaintiffs asked for an
injunction to allow the girl to play on the boys' golf
team.
According to the plaintiffs, the issue was not
whether the girl had a "right" to play golf, but
whether she should Lie treated differently from boys
in an activity provided by the state.
"The state affords interschool competition and
instructors at some expense and effort, and the
defendant thinks the program is of benefit to
participate," said U.S. District Judge Warren Urbom.
"If the program is of value for boys, is it not of
value for girls?" he asked, and granted the injunction.
"This is what we're asking," Boslaugh said.
If the public schools are found to be
discriminating, they can lose all federal funds.
The girls said that more than 50 per cent of
Nebraska high school students are girls, but a larger
percentage of money is spent on boys' athletic
programs.
"In Iowa, they've got girls' basketbal I up to such a
level that they're better than anybody else. People
come to watch the girls. They go home when the
boys come on," Boslaugh said.
The girls said they someday would like to see girls'
snorts reach that level in Nebraska, hut for now
they'll settle for a full basketball program next year. J
There are probably as mar.y ans.vers
as there are individual M.a-yknoll
priests and Brothers. Some men are
deeply moved when they hear of
babies dying in their mother's arms
because of hunger or disvav. Other',
are distressed by the growing antaij
onisrn and separation between the
rich and the poor nations, More are
concerned about the great injusties
that have been inflicted upon the
poor by tho:,e who ,., v iltl
and power in an excessive1 degree.
Otheis look to learn from peoples
who have grown up with a different
mentality than that which e, teu .
All feel that the only solutem to ;h"
raises thai threaten to ,plit men
asunder is the love of God .is shown
in the hfe of His Son, Jesus Chi e.t
This love of God urge-, men to ( i
forward and be missmm-rs so men
can love one another. Wial could t
voui reason for joining Mar y ! m .i '
Free aseline . . .
Would be nice, but at today's prices a
small discount is nice. See a station
which is still on the January 15 price
base not the inflated May 15 prices.
Save 2c A GAL
STANDARD)
mm
flew
17th at "Q"
If you keep saying you want to do something
with your life -here's your chance to prove it
44-v f J '
a mm m. v-s-
! 11'
f ui ii'f ounatiii", vo i te or (ino'ie to
MAIiYKNOLL Mi:5IONLHS, 7101 f AST inA VL
DLNVCn, CO.WiVOfj (3031 322 778
y Please M.-rid me information about becoming a
""V Name
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ister
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U I I V E itS I TY EM ILO 'E IS
I I OK M A HO VI L
MEETING GET THE !
rut rai
riif: union
VAX HO FOit YOU
DrrrmlM t 61I1. 7:30 PM
Lincoln Labor Temple lo2. "V Si.
I he University of Nebraska non-academic
workers are organizing. Loeal 1 827 of the
American I cderation of Stale, County, and
iunicipal l.mployees (AI-SCMI-i) is involved in an
organizing drive. 'Hie university workers are
seeking an election in which workers may choose
the union to bargain for a contract. Ihirty per cent
ol the workers must sign authorization cards in
onler to petition for that election. 1 he effort is
well on its way; however, more signed cards are
needed.
University of Nebraska workers are underpaid
have poor working conditions, and little or no job
security. Signing these cards is a step toward a
position ol strength rather than weakness.
I or more information attend this important
meeting. I here will ,e N() Milicilali.m of
membership.
page
(Judy iii'biu'.l' fin
monday, december 3, 1973