Fifty years ago today, President Richard Nixon signed Title IX into law – legislation that prohibited sex discrimination in any educational program or activity receiving any type of federal financial aid.

The new law would have a significant impact across U.S. society, and it affected college athletics in a landscape-altering way.

Female athletes, who often were shorted out of the same resources as men, would begin to receive better accommodations. Colleges began awarding athletic scholarships to women.

The plight of the female athlete has made progress since 1972, but there is still so much more work to do. Beginning today, Cal Athletics will spend the next year celebrating and accelerating Title IX, and educating ourselves and you about the implications of the legislation.

Please watch the accompanying video, as we launch our year-long celebration of the 50^th anniversary of the implementation of Title IX, culminating on June 23, 2023.