Forty Years Later, Separate and Unequal

Several days ago, the Melrose boys' and girls' hockey teams played opening round games in the post-season tournament. The boys played at Chelmsford with rock hard ice and excellent seating for spectators. The girls played at Concord, which unfortunately had troubling ice conditions and end zone seating, which accommodated the small crowd. 

Title IX is part of the Education Amendments of 1972, designed to fill in gaps that failed to address sex discrimination in federally funded programs and public education. Although the act didn't specifically address athletics, it greatly impacted separate and unequal treatment for female athletes. 

Melrose's hockey girls played a spirited contest, losing a closely-contested match in the final moments to Lincoln-Sudbury.

It was unfortunate that on a frigid February night that temperatures in the rink must have been at least twenty-five degrees higher inside than outside. The ice surface (the same for both teams) was deplorably slow, and it resulted in slower skating and puck movement throughout the contest. Both teams had trouble clearing the puck at times as the ideally frictionless surface was anything but. Occasional shots ground to a halt en route to goalies. Girls overskated pucks that stopped on slush or puddles. The referees briefly delayed the opening of the third period, as I believe they hoped the ice would freeze completely. 

Who speaks for the fans, the coaches, and the players who played a great game under faulty conditions? I have previously written to the MIAA about volleyball venues, specifically a game years ago in Reading (their old high school) with poor floor conditions, ceiling height well below regulated standards, and inadequate seating capacity that turned away about a hundred paying customers that the MIAA dearly embraces. I never got the favor of a reply. 

Melrose didn't lose because of the conditions. Lincoln-Sudbury won because they made a great play in a big moment. But everyone was deprived of the best game possible because the facility conditions weren't ideal. Has anyone from either school complained to the MIAA? Or it's women's sports, so it doesn't matter? It may be forty years post Title IX, but the not-so-slippery slop remains separate and unequal.