Passion marks round 1 in title IX hearings. (Newswatch).

The blue-ribbon commission charged with assuring that Title IX is fairly distributing opportunities for participation in sports heard a lot of emotional testimony at its first town-hall session held in Atlanta in August.

Tears, anger and passion abounded as people spoke of opportunities won and lost, of their parents' sacrifices and hopes for their own children.

At issue is whether Title IX, the federal law requiring gender equity in federally funded educational programs, is being fairly interpreted to provide equal opportunities for athletes of both genders. It doesn't help equity that the man who created the commission and scheduled the four national meetings, secretary of the U.S. Department of Education Rod Page, is a former football coach.

Advocates for women athletes back Title IX, saying widespread cuts to men's programs in wrestling and gymnastics and other non-revenue sports occur because schools are too bent on overspending on men's basketball and football to creatively budget for other sports.

Advocates for non-revenue male programs charge that Title IX is forcing schools to overspend on women at the expense of their sports. Testimony included:

* "Title IX is the most significant contribution to the equality of women since the 19th amendment to the Constitution. Please don't listen to those people who tell you women and girls are not interested in sports. They are. I'd like to add one question to your list: Do we wish less opportunity for our daughters than for our sons?" Birch Bayh, ...