”
Your paper has recently carried a couple of articles and letters
in the opinion section regarding a San Juan School girl who wished
to play flag football. In these articles, it was claimed that there
could possibly be a Title IX violation on the school’s part because
this girl was ‘not allowed to play’ on a boys’ team.
There are several issues the Free Lance did not address.
“Your paper has recently carried a couple of articles and letters in the opinion section regarding a San Juan School girl who wished to play flag football. In these articles, it was claimed that there could possibly be a Title IX violation on the school’s part because this girl was ‘not allowed to play’ on a boys’ team.
There are several issues the Free Lance did not address. First, Title IX was not written with the intent of co-educationalizing sports. The writers of the bill wanted women to have equal access to sports, not necessarily to have them play on men’s teams. A better example of a possible Title IX violation may be Gavilan College not providing uniforms until mid-season for their women’s soccer team. This could be interpreted as discriminatory and a Title IX violation if the school purposely failed to outfit their women’s team and instead decided to provide equipment to one of their men’s athletic teams.
Secondly, San Juan School, in conjunction with other local schools, has always been proactive in ensuring that girls have equal access to sports. In the San Benito Athletic League (of which San Juan School is a co-founder), there are an equal number of boys’ and girls’ teams. In fact, at some schools in the league, the ratio of girls who participate in sports is significantly higher than the ratio of boys.
As often is the case, we do not want the facts to get in the way of our opinions. In the process of publishing half-truths, you have become an avenue for innuendo that has tarnished the reputation of a school, its athletic program and its coaches. Please be more careful about what you publish.”
“Ruben Lopez is a puppet. Now he’s pounding on Ignacio Velazquez for speaking up and telling another side to the story. Truth is, it’s OK for Richard Scagliotti to build and build and build, but not ANYBODY ELSE! Thanks Ignacio for taking the hits and name calling. It took guts.”
“This is in response to the question asked in the Oct. 21 Citizens Voice column. The writer asked who Mandy Rose is and why she has so much influence since she is just a county employee. Surprise! I think this must be asked by someone who is new to town. It is pretty common knowledge that she is a friend of over six years to our esteemed Supervisor Scagliotti. I hear rumors that he plans to help her get Gil Solario’s old job. Corruption, oh yeah! I appreciate this column and the ability to state the truth without the threat of repercussions.”
“I sure hope the investigators and the attorney from the state doesn’t set up shop in the local district attorney’s office, being that Sarsfield and Scagliotti have apparently set up a pipe line.”
“About the city budget cuts: If they’re having problems with budget cuts, how come city recreation employees and umpires are smoking marijuana before softball games? People call and complain, and they do nothing about it. It ain’t right to do it on school property at Rancho San Justo. Something needs to be done.
And the other thing: Your paper is good. This is the best feature around. Everybody else ain’t nothing but cry babies.”
