of the program The placement New Era under the athletic director puts the female competitors on a more even footing in regard to the use of equipment and facilities, Mrs. Wood said. The women’s athletic program involves only intercollegiate competition, or what were once called For extramurals, Women's rather than in- tramurals or contests held just within the college community. Gymnastics Program Athletics The image of collegiate sports as a largely male domain is changing at Weber State College. A recently-approved federal law states women must be given, if not equal, at least adequate fun- ding for athletic programs, along with that allocated to sports for men in public schools. This bill is changing the picture at many Utah colleges. The women’s sports program at Weber State has been realigned, under the athletic department, rather than as a part of the department of health, physical education and recreation under the School of Education. Dale Gardner, WSC Athletic director, now supervises the women’s activities as well as those for male students. Women’s Coach Joy Wood, coach for the women’s basketball, volleyball and softball teams at Weber State, says the women’s intercollegiate sports program is making ‘‘good progress.” With the initiation of Title IX, specifying the need for equality in men’s and women’s sports, the Weber State women’s athletic program went from a budget of $3,000 last year to $15,000 this Diane Whiteley is coach of the gymnastics program, the fourth sport in which Weber State women compete. These four sports give opportunities for competition to the largest number of women, says Mrs. Wood. Some 75 per cent of the recently acquired funds are being spent for travel expenses, as the Weber State teams visit neighboring states to join in athletic contests with 14 other major colleges in the area. Weber State competes with colleges and universities in Utah, Idaho, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and Wyoming, with the University of Texas at El Paso recently added to the region. In past years, the WSC teams traveled strictly by car, but more recently have been able to charter buses for some trips, still relying on automobile transportation in most cases. Team Members This, says Mrs. Wood, puts the Weber: State team members at a disadvantage when playing against those athletes who travel by air. Often, the women will leave on a Thursday, by car, arriving at games in Arizona or other longdistance sites, to compete on Friday and must be back in Utah for school on Monday. “If you play four games when you are tired from traveling and you drop all four, it puts the team way behind,’ Mrs. Wood explains. The method of competing in the region usually involves playing several teams from an area when Aiming for the basket, Linda Headly fires off a shot. (photo by John Shupe) the WSC team visits that area, so ps four games are often played on one trip. “Many colleges in the region can afford to fly to away games,” says the coach. Next Budget The women’s sports program is asking $40,000 for next year’s budget, which would allow $10,000 for each sport. This figure would make Weber State more competitive, Mrs. Wood feels. After scoring enough wins to qualify during regional competition, a team could travel to a national tournament in a sport. Of the three years Weber State has been involved in this type of intercollegiate competition, WSC women’s softball teams have qualified to play in national com: | petition twice, and both times — placed in the top ten teams nation- ally. “We have well-qualified young women here, and we’re finally getting some help in getting recognition for them,’’ says Mrs. Wood. Paid Expenses In past years, women on WSC} “We play some of the best college teams in the nation”’ Weber State on the way Oka) to a win over USU. (photo by Ken