Duane Brekke, Minot

A recent letter to the editor regarding the athletic opportunities created for women and girls with the passage of Title IX in 1972 brought to mind the response to Title IX by then Minot State University President Gordon Olson.

President Olson sat down with his athletic staff and told them to immediately take steps to make women’s sports happen at Minot State. He accepted no arguments, no hesitation, but expected staff to get on board with Title IX. A week later, University of North Dakota President Thomas Clifford heard about it, and inquired into what Minot State was doing and requested it be implemented in all North Dakota universities and schools.

Recently, the University of Pennsylvania erased three school records set by a transgender swimmer and said it would apologize to the swim team’s female athletes as part of an agreement with the U.S. Department of Education over Title IX violations.

President Olson would not have made the mistake of the University of Pennsylvania. No apologies would be needed. Minot State was, without a doubt, a leader for women’s sports.