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Kevin Fischer is an award-winning veteran broadcaster who has been seen and heard on Milwaukee TV and radio stations for nearly three decades.
Kevin, who is a legislative aide to state Sen. Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin), can be seen offering his views on the news on the public affairs program, “INTERchange,” on Milwaukee Public Television Channel 10. He lives with his wife, Jennifer, in Franklin.
New NCAA rule attempts to prevent coerced abortions
By Kevin Fischer
Saturday, Feb 23 2008, 07:34 AM
Yesterday while filling in for Mark Belling on Newstalk 130 WISN, I spoke about an ESPN documentary that was broadcast during May 2007. The documentary prompted the NCAA to enact a new rule that prohibits colleges and universities from rescinding female athletes’ scholarships because they become pregnant.
ESPN reported that at Clemson University, “At least seven current or recently graduated student-athletes terminated their pregnancies, primarily because they were afraid of losing their athletic scholarships.”
One of the athletes tried to seek counsel from a university administrator when she found out she was pregnant.
ESPN reported this about that meeting, quoting the athlete:
"She was just like, 'You know that's going to be hard? Everything that you got … gone,'" the athlete said, recounting her conversation. "And she was like, 'Just think about your options. You know Coach isn't going to give you back your scholarship just like that. If she finds out and if you decide to keep it, that's gone.'"
The student-athlete said she was asked to sign a team document prior to the 2005 season that stated: "Pregnancy resulting in the inability to compete and positively contribute to the program's success will result in the modification of your grant-in-aid money."
The document the athlete was forced to sign was roundly criticized as gender discrimination, a clear violation of Title IX.
Cassandra Harding signed a similar document at the University of Memphis. The document listed all the possible scenarios that could lead to a loss of scholarship. Getting pregnant was one of them. When her coaches found out Harding was pregnant, her scholarship was stripped immediately.
Here is the ESPN report that also has videos.
As a result of the ESPN investigation, the NCAA has approved a new rule to help female athletes who feel coerced to get abortions. The rule that goes into effect August 1, 2008 prevents schools from taking away scholarships from women that get pregnant.
The rule only prohibits schools from dropping scholarships during the year the athlete gets pregnant.
One of the many callers on the topic asked, “What about the breeders?” What about female athletes who keep getting pregnant?
Under the new rule, schools could still take away scholarships for future years from students who become pregnant and don't have an abortion.
Here are more details on the new rule, a good step by the NCAA.
