Q: What led or motivated you to play sports?

A: From an early age, I enjoyed physical activities and liked the satisfaction of being successful at them. When I was starting seventh grade, my family moved from Buffalo to Philadelphia, where field hockey and lacrosse were (are) popular sports for girls. I decided to try them out and found that being on teams was a wonderful way to make new friends. Participating in sports helped me become less shy and more confident.

Q: What adversity did you encounter, if any at your school to play your sport(s)?

A: I didn't feel we encountered adversity, as we were grateful to have any kind of intercollegiate program at all. Cornell didn't even have a women's lacrosse team until 1973, the year before I arrived! When I look at the facilities, resources, and opportunities Cornell's women athletes have now, however, there is no comparison! We provided our own white shirts for uniforms and packed peanut butter sandwiches to eat on road trips. Our Ivy League schedule was limited to one or two opponents, and there was no recognition for top performers. The field we played on in lacrosse was sloping and covered with dandelions much of the time. Forget travel to Europe -- we were thrilled to go to Boston! Despite resources that now seem woefully inadequate, however, most of my teammates and I would say our participation in sports was the highlight of our Cornell careers!

Q: What pressures, if any, were you feeling during that time?

A: The only pressures I recall related to reaching my academic goals while playing two sports. I remember our coach being exasperated with field hockey players who were studying their textbooks while sitting on the bench during a game. Such are the realities of academic life in the Ivy League!

Q: When did you realize the importance of what you were a part of, being in the beginning Title IX era?

A: I was an officer in Cornell's Women's Athletic Association and I recall having many discussions about how to obtain more resources for women athletes. I can't say we witnessed many tangible improvements during my time at Cornell. It seems that change was slow to come in the early years of Title IX.

Q: What was the most memorable experience for you?

A: I was honored to be elected to Cornell's Athletic Hall of Fame in 1984. In my view, having the opportunity to play two sports was its own reward, so being honored for my contributions was icing on the cake!

Q: In your opinion, what was the most gratifying moment in women's sports in general?

A: I can't point to a particular moment, but I think the ascent of the U.S. women's soccer program and the skill and toughness of those athletes has broadened the sights of many young girls regarding sports.

Q: Even with sports like women's pro basketball becoming so popular in America, women's sports still do not garner the same attention as men's sports. Aside from the lack of media coverage, what responsibility should athletes and women in general have to the growth of women's sports in America?

A: As the parent of a young daughter, I feel my own responsibility is to expose her to different opportunities in sports and cultivate a love of physical activity and team participation. There are so many critical life lessons to be learned in sports, such as the importance of commitment, perseverance, cooperation, and hard work. I feel that if we can cultivate interest from the youngest ages on up, that will help drive programming to meet the demand. I also feel a responsibility to confront wrong attitudes about girls in sports, such as when my son said to his sister, "You rode that snowboard well for a girl!" We all need to speak out and model that girls and women have just as much potential as men to be excellent in sports!

Q: What is your hope for the future of women's sports?

A: I hope that girls and women will, in increasing numbers, find the fulfillment that comes from participating in sports. Life can get very task-oriented and way too serious, especially for adults. I can't think of a better way to have fun and stay in good shape that taking part in sports. I have a lot of friends who never played sports and I feel they really missed something special in life. I hope all girls and women who want to will be able to experience the personal growth that comes by participating in sports.