Karen O’Connor, founder and director emerita of AU’s Women and Politics Institute, asked in a letter printed Feb. 21, 2012, why AU Athletics and AU women’s basketball combined a celebration of Title IX and women and girls in sports with “the equivalent of a sophomoric and tasteless boob-a-thon, as they did during the Bra-Decorating Contest that occurred during halftime at the Feb. 11 women’s basketball game.”
The simple answer to Ms. O’Connor’s question is that AU did not combine these events. Her op-ed was factually incorrect.
National Girls and Women in Sports Day was celebrated Feb. 4, and AU’s breast cancer awareness activities were held Feb. 11.
That being said, combining these celebrations would not have been wrong or disrespectful.
Working with the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) and American University’s Women’s Initiative, our women’s basketball game on Feb. 11 was dedicated to the cause of breast cancer awareness through the WBCA’s Think Pink and Play for Kay Initiative. Kay Yow was the legendary North Carolina State basketball coach, who died of breast cancer.
The decorating contest has been used regularly in breast cancer awareness activities. The contest, along with other activities sponsored at AU that day, allowed us to raise awareness among our student body regarding an important women’s health issue, something we intend to continue doing.
AU Athletics Department