2008 Woodie Awards
Pink locker room controversy back
Carla Keppler - The Daily Iowan
Issue date: 12/3/07 Section: Metro
- < prev Page 2 of 2
To date, the correspondence has received no reply.
"Sadly, they seem to assume ignoring the problem will make it go away," Gaulding said. "They really want to have as little to do with the problem as possible."
She set up a stand on Melrose Avenue during the Nov. 17 football game as part of what she refers to as her obligation to further inform the community about the controversy.
She said with all the foot traffic around Iowa City on game day, the stand was a perfect opportunity to present the petition and educate the public on the discriminatory issue.
As Gaulding expected, feedback came from everyone from hecklers to feminists, she said.
The petition gathered an estimated 100 signatures, she said, noting that it alone would do little to resolve the controversy.
She said she plans to file the complaint in the near future.
"Filing a Title IX complaint will be a useful step, certainly the biggest legal step I can take," she said. "But ultimately, it's public opinion that can lead to the removal of the pink locker room."
Christine Grant, who has nearly 30 years of experience with Title IX issues as a former Hawkeye women's athletics director, said she would need to familiarize herself with the specifics of the complaint before she could judge whether Gaulding was making a wise move. Grant said she agrees the pink locker room is unnecessary.
"I don't support the pink locker room," she said. "It was done in a different era, way back, and I think our society has progressed significantly since then. I don't see a need for it."
E-mail DI reporter Carla Keppler at:
carla-keppler@uiowa.edu
"Sadly, they seem to assume ignoring the problem will make it go away," Gaulding said. "They really want to have as little to do with the problem as possible."
She set up a stand on Melrose Avenue during the Nov. 17 football game as part of what she refers to as her obligation to further inform the community about the controversy.
She said with all the foot traffic around Iowa City on game day, the stand was a perfect opportunity to present the petition and educate the public on the discriminatory issue.
As Gaulding expected, feedback came from everyone from hecklers to feminists, she said.
The petition gathered an estimated 100 signatures, she said, noting that it alone would do little to resolve the controversy.
She said she plans to file the complaint in the near future.
"Filing a Title IX complaint will be a useful step, certainly the biggest legal step I can take," she said. "But ultimately, it's public opinion that can lead to the removal of the pink locker room."
Christine Grant, who has nearly 30 years of experience with Title IX issues as a former Hawkeye women's athletics director, said she would need to familiarize herself with the specifics of the complaint before she could judge whether Gaulding was making a wise move. Grant said she agrees the pink locker room is unnecessary.
"I don't support the pink locker room," she said. "It was done in a different era, way back, and I think our society has progressed significantly since then. I don't see a need for it."
E-mail DI reporter Carla Keppler at:
carla-keppler@uiowa.edu
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 78
Shawn
posted 12/03/07 @ 4:55 AM CST
Sounds like Jill has a lot of free time on her hands, and not much of a life...
Kelli
posted 12/03/07 @ 7:40 AM CST
Ms. Gaulding has missed the point of having a pink locker room. It's the psychological reaction to the color. Pink is a more passive color (in contrast to red). (Continued…)
Jeff Kunkel
posted 12/03/07 @ 7:42 AM CST
I can not believe with all the problems in this country and with the attacks on women at the University, the complete waste of time and money this issue brings. (Continued…)
john
posted 12/03/07 @ 7:44 AM CST
Jill:
Something is missing from your life. Please get a life, or get laid.
John
Todd
posted 12/03/07 @ 7:55 AM CST
I can't believe that we're going to waste more taxpayer time and effort on an issue that is pointless like this.
How is a PINK locker room degrading to women?
I would hope that Ms. (Continued…)
Michelle
posted 12/03/07 @ 8:00 AM CST
Some people spend a lot of energy on the silliest things. If the university decides her complaint has merit does Miss Gaulding get to decide the color of the locker room? How about lavender? By the way, why didn't the women's restrooms in the north end of Kinnick get a makeover when the stadium was renovated? They are terribly shabby and outdated by fifty years. (Continued…)
Ron
posted 12/03/07 @ 8:09 AM CST
Ms. Gaulding obviously feels the need for attention. She can't quite grasp the concept that Coach Fry employed when decorating the original lockerroom in pink, i. (Continued…)
Nick
posted 12/03/07 @ 8:11 AM CST
Jill Gaulding; BUG OFF! I am so damn tired of your pathetic little rants. You have absolutely no life and no common sense. WHEN HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN THE LOCKER ROOM?
Paul262
Paul
posted 12/03/07 @ 8:12 AM CST
Well the lost to Western Michigan shows that apparently the Pink locker room has lost its psychological affect on visiting teams. Besides is the locker room pink or is it really Salmon? Looking at this from an overview I cannot imagine that a court would want to waste its time on this case as I do not believe that this case holds any merit for Ms. (Continued…)
Mark Weimer
posted 12/03/07 @ 8:14 AM CST
I'm afraid Ms. Gaulding has made assumptions and missed the point. As has been noted, the color pink has nothing to do with women or "sissies" and everything to do with the psychological impact of the color. (Continued…)
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