#36 "Sewanee and Women"

Media: Episode Recording -- "Sewanee and Women"; Episode Preview -- "Sewanee and Women"

Podcast Teaser Trailer: Episode Preview -- "Sewanee and Women"
Link to Podcast: Episode Recording -- "Sewanee and Women"
Guest Biography: Today's episode includes excerpts from the oral history of Sandra Sanderlin Baird or as she prefers to be called, "Sandy” and her time at the University of the South, specifically focusing on her experience as a student-athlete. In high school, Sandy never had the opportunity to be involved in sports, so getting to be a part of the now-defunct women's gymnastics team at Sewanee was incredibly exciting for her. She first found out about Sewanee through an event at her school and partially chose to attend because of her father's wishes that she stay in-state. In her own words, Sandy fell in love with the college, summarizing her feelings by saying, “Sewanee is the kind of place where you either love it or hate it, and it was obvious that I loved it.” When she attended, the student population was about 10% women, and it grew gradually over her years there. Sandy graduated as part of the Class of 1976 and started a legacy at Sewanee, as some of her children and grandchildren have attended the University of the South as well. She still keeps in touch with her former teammates almost 50 years later and remarks that sports have continued to be an incredibly important part of her and her family’s culture.
Episode Number: Students Podcasting History Episode #36
Episode Title: #36 "Sewanee and Women"
Episode Date: April 24, 2025
Episode Introduction: Much of American history is wrapped up in the idea of people, and specifically women's rights. It was only 105 years ago that women gained the right to vote in this country, and still, specifically with the overturn of Roe v Wade in 2022, women are losing their rights all the same. One of the most prominent and once more debated achievements in women's rights was the creation of Title XI that allowed women full and equal participation, especially in areas like collegiate sports.
But to begin to debate this, it is necessary to understand it and why it was created, which leads to larger questions like how were women even integrated into college? This is much more complicated than one day a college let a woman in, it was a long and hard process that started with societal changes like the creation of the new woman and the fact that, even when women were allowed into college, they still faced incredible discrimination.
To furthermore be able to understand this, it is helpful to look at real life examples, like Sewanee: The University of the South. This college, when it came to women attending, and later participating in sports, was not radical or revolutionary, as women were not treated kindly and the actions of others made it obvious that they were not wanted there or in sports. Still, women like Sandra “Sandy” Sanderlin Baird, decided to attend and be among the first women to go to college at Sewanee and participate in sports there. Although things were initially rough, these women paved a way for female athletes now at Sewanee, a college where women outnumber men, aligning with the national statistic of women being in college.
Hosted By: Jessica Cheak
Host Biography: The host of this episode is Jessica Cheak. She is a freshman at the University of the South and plans to major in History with a minor in Appalachian studies and Theater. Outside of the
classroom she is a member of the University Choir, a member of the Classics Honor Society: Eta Sigma Phi, and involved with theater, Cru, and the office of Civic Engagement on campus. She is currently studying both Women in American History with Dr Brookfield and U.S. History with Dr. Maginn, the visionary for Students Podcasting History. Students Podcasting History is an educational resource developed by students in Dr. Andrew Maginn’s History of the United States II course to highlight crucial movements in American History through podcasting. The students research and interpret primary and secondary sources to discuss pivotal themes, people, and events in the United States' history from 1865 through the present. Through creatively sharing these narratives and learning digital tools, these students hope to make history more accessible and exciting for the general public.
Guest: Sandra Sanderlin Baird
The Show: Hello everyone, I am Jessica Cheak, and welcome to Students Podcasting History, where I examine historical events both as they happened and provide modern context. Today, we will be talking about women's sports and discussing how women's collegiate sports, as made possible by Title IX, were helpful in creating community at Sewanee. One of the most debated issues right now in our country is women's sports, often thrown together with Title IX and questions about who it includes or prohibits from participating. But before the modern issues can be answered, it is important to look back and examine how women even got into sports at all, considering that just 100 years ago, women had only recently gained the right to vote. Today we will explore how women first began attending college and the creation of Title IX, then specifically look at Sewanee: The University of the South, examining the challenges women faced integrating and joining sports teams, and concluding with the story of one woman whose experience shows how sports positively impacted her time in college, ending with a brief overview of women in college today. To begin, where did the revolutionary idea of women attending college originate? In the late 1800s, following the Civil War, the idea of the “New Woman” developed—an educated, confident, athletic woman who could study, work, and engage socially. (Dr. Molly Brookfield, “The New Woman,” History 238, Sewanee) Around the same time, women started gaining admission to colleges like Oberlin and Baylor. Federal land grants funded new colleges, and wealthy taxpayers often expected their daughters to be allowed to enroll. (Dr. Andrew Maginn, “Gender Rights Movement,” History 202, Sewanee) The next major step came in 1972 with Title IX, which mandated that "no person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance." (Ruth Bader Ginsburg, “The Need for the Equal Rights Amendment,” American Bar Association Journal, 1973) While Title IX legally opened doors for women in sports, its enforcement met strong resistance. A case study is Sewanee, where women faced steep barriers just to be admitted, much less supported in athletics. As an article in The Sewanee Purple recounts, women began enrolling in 1969, and although fears that women would "ruin" Sewanee proved unfounded, opposition remained fierce. (E.N. Chitty, “Women as Students,” The Sewanee Purple, 1983) One 1970 letter to the editor claimed women's presence threatened the entire university's legacy. (Henry Lodge, The Sewanee Purple, 1970) Beyond admissions, women faced systemic discrimination in athletics. When gym overcrowding became an issue, women's activities were the first canceled. (Jay Fisher, “Athletic Facilities Crowded,” The Sewanee Purple, 1977) Despite these challenges, some students like Cindy Irvin fought for greater recognition of women's sports in the campus newspaper. (Cindy Irvin, “Women's Athletics- A Call for Organization,” The Sewanee Purple, 1976) Turning to individual stories, Sandra "Sandy" Sanderlin Baird, a 1970s Sewanee student, shared her experiences. Despite limited resources—hand-sewn uniforms and a coach commuting daily from Chattanooga—Sandy fondly remembers the friendships built through gymnastics. (Sandra Sanderlin Baird, Interview by Gillian Campbell, 2022) Sandy and her teammates even advocated for themselves against unfair treatment, and today, Sandy remains close to her fellow athletes. Nationally, women's college enrollment and graduation rates now surpass those of men. (M.T. Nietzel, Forbes, 2024) Although debates about women's collegiate sports persist, it is undeniable that these programs have created lasting communities and opportunities for women in higher education. Thank you so much for tuning into Students Podcasting History, where we learned about another fascinating chapter in American and women's history. Today, we covered women's journey into higher education, the development of Title IX, and the integration of women into sports, with a special focus on Sewanee. Again, thank you for listening—this is Jessica Cheak reminding you to always ask yourself: what's next on your checklist to learn? If you have more topics to check off your historical checklist, please subscribe to Students Podcasting History and rate my episode. To listen to more historical podcasts, please visit our website Students Podcasting History, and have a great day!
Contact Information: CheakJJ0@Sewanee.edu