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A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE NEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERSITY BOARD OF REGENTS TO

STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING WOMEN'S ICE HOCKEY AS A

VARSITY SPORT.

WHEREAS, Title 9 of the Education Amendments of 1972, 20

USC, Sections 1681-1688, has caused disparities between men's

and women's collegiate athletic programs; and

WHEREAS, women's ice hockey is gaining popularity

throughout the country; and

WHEREAS, women's ice hockey has been an Olympic sport

since the eighteenth winter Olympic games in Nagano, Japan, in

1998; and

WHEREAS, there are currently limited opportunities for

women attending New Mexico state university to play ice

hockey; and

WHEREAS, the Pan American center at New Mexico state

university may provide a possible venue for ice hockey games;

and

WHEREAS, the addition of women's sports in a timely

manner can reduce the likelihood of forcing the termination of

other sports programs at a university; and

WHEREAS, the proportion of women students at New Mexico

state university continues to be approximately fifty-six

percent of the student body, and the feasibility of adding

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women's sports programs should be studied continually;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE

STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the board of regents of New Mexico

state university be requested to study the feasibility of

adapting the Pan American center to accommodate ice hockey

games and to study the cost of establishing a division one

women's ice hockey program, including a budget for the

start-up and annual operating expenses of such a program,

including recurring scholarships; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the board of regents of New

Mexico state university report the results of this study no

later than October 31, 2006 to the chief clerk of the senate;

and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be

transmitted to the president and board of regents of New

Mexico state university.