Figured that would get your attention...
On February 2, it got Michelle Campbell's attention.
10 minutes before tip-off at a boy's basketball game at St. Mary's Academy, Campbell, a retired police officer now in her second year as a referee, was told she could not referee for the game.
And it all had to do with nothing more than sex. Her sex.
Her co-referee for the game, Darin Putthoff, clearly recalls the conversation the two had with St. Mary's Athletic Director Keith Perry right before game time. Perry said "We have a problem: We don't allow women to referee here (sic) - it's something to do with women having authority over men."
Campbell did nothing more than report it to the state Kansas State High School Activities Association. Not to get them in trouble, mind you... she just wanted to make a note of the school's stance should the issue arise in the future for other women referees. Her seasoned years in law enforcement gave her plenty of thick skin to not take the matter personally, and she never pulled out a soapbox on which to stand. News outlets did that with aplomb.
"EXTRA! EXTRA! Read all about it! Female not allowed to referee Catholic boy's basketball game because women can't have authority over men!"
Naturally, the word spread faster than ants at a July 4th picnic, and St. Mary's Academy officials were quickly fighting raging PR wildfires. Rev. Vicente Griego, the Academy's headmaster released a written statement Tuesday which read in part:
"This alleged reason was neither stated nor is it held by any officials of St. Mary's Academy./The formation of adolescent boys is best accomplished by male role models, as the formation of girls is best accomplished by women. Hence in the boys' athletic competitions, it is important that the various role models (coaches and referees) be men."
Talk about semantics...
I give Campbell the nod for her perspective in a recent AP phone interview:
"I kind of want the focus to go back to the kids, why we are out there and why we do this officiating. To me, it's about the kids who are in the sport of basketball and being a good role model for them."
NOW who's being a good role model for whom?...
On February 2, it got Michelle Campbell's attention.
10 minutes before tip-off at a boy's basketball game at St. Mary's Academy, Campbell, a retired police officer now in her second year as a referee, was told she could not referee for the game.
And it all had to do with nothing more than sex. Her sex.
Her co-referee for the game, Darin Putthoff, clearly recalls the conversation the two had with St. Mary's Athletic Director Keith Perry right before game time. Perry said "We have a problem: We don't allow women to referee here (sic) - it's something to do with women having authority over men."
Campbell did nothing more than report it to the state Kansas State High School Activities Association. Not to get them in trouble, mind you... she just wanted to make a note of the school's stance should the issue arise in the future for other women referees. Her seasoned years in law enforcement gave her plenty of thick skin to not take the matter personally, and she never pulled out a soapbox on which to stand. News outlets did that with aplomb.
"EXTRA! EXTRA! Read all about it! Female not allowed to referee Catholic boy's basketball game because women can't have authority over men!"
Naturally, the word spread faster than ants at a July 4th picnic, and St. Mary's Academy officials were quickly fighting raging PR wildfires. Rev. Vicente Griego, the Academy's headmaster released a written statement Tuesday which read in part:
"This alleged reason was neither stated nor is it held by any officials of St. Mary's Academy./The formation of adolescent boys is best accomplished by male role models, as the formation of girls is best accomplished by women. Hence in the boys' athletic competitions, it is important that the various role models (coaches and referees) be men."
Talk about semantics...
I give Campbell the nod for her perspective in a recent AP phone interview:
"I kind of want the focus to go back to the kids, why we are out there and why we do this officiating. To me, it's about the kids who are in the sport of basketball and being a good role model for them."
NOW who's being a good role model for whom?...
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