Bemidji State News Reporting S'11: Men’s and Women’s Hockey Teams at BSU

A Deeper Look at Equality of BSU Hockey

By Tony Barber & Max Hodgdon

Men’s and Women’s hockey are popular sports here in Bemidji, Minn, particularly at Bemidji State University. Title IX, a federal mandate, requires that men’s and women’s athletic programs receive equal treatment in terms of financial support and participation from students. BSU, like many other campuses, has never been in full compliance with Title IX. In fact, the men’s track and field team was recently cut because of Title IX, even though it was financially self-sustaining. Division I hockey was untouched, even though there have been inequities.

“I think that the men get more media attention and community support,” said Marlee Wheelhouse, a BSU women’s hockey team member. Head Coach of the BSU women’s hockey team, Steve Sertich, explained that other programs have gained support through incentives for attendance at games. For example, the University of Wisconsin recently had an incentive for people to attend their women's hockey game against the University of Minnesota, where they drew approximately 10,000 people, “I would like to look at different ways to get our students over here to watch" said Sertich. “We have to come up with ways to entice people to come over and see what we have to offer." Sertich never mentioned the incentive that the University of Wisconsin used.

Both teams are given the same building to play in, the same facilities to train in, and same accommodations on the road. The women's team has 23 players and four coaches; the men's team has 35 players and four coaches. When asked about equality for men and woman’s hockey neither Serratore nor Sertich seemed aware of any equality issues pertaining to the teams. Several players had the same feelings, including men’s hockey team member Matthew Read: “I do believe both men's and women's hockey teams are treated equally,” he said. “Each player’s needs are met and we both only get what is needed. There isn't much I would change.”

The women’s team is forced to play at 2:07 p.m. however, when the men’s hockey team is in town. Fewer people are likely to attend, because of work and other obligations. This could be a reason that the men have more support than women.

During the current fiscal year men’s hockey has made a profit of $23,442 as of February 6, 2011. The women currently break even. The men's coaches are paid more, but, according to Bill Maki the vice president of finance and administration, “The tenure of the men’s coaches at BSU has been longer than the women’s coaches."

“Operating costs are a bit higher for FY2011 for men's because of the entry fees we need to pay the WCHA for our first three years of membership,” said Maki. Aside from this fee that the men have to pay; operating costs are identical. Both teams are awarded $248,000 in scholarships. The women's players are given more per person because there are fewer players on the team. The Sanford Center brings in nearly a quarter of a million in advertising revenue from signs and ads around the rink. All of this money goes to the men's hockey team and the women don't get any of this money, even though they play in the same rink. The men's team far and away out sells the women's team in tickets. This is where men's hockey team makes the $23,442 profit. The women's team makes up for low ticket sales from donations from Alumni, Beaver Pride, and other private supporters. They have donated $766,185 during the current season, and all of it goes towards the women's team.