Title IX advocates admit there has been some overall improvement inthe last twenty-five years. But they also insist that there's still alot of ground to cover to achieve gender equity across the board.

"I'm an optimist," Brake says. "I feel schools can make a lot ofchanges within the next five years. We've had enough stonewalling aboutthis. It's time for schools to become more proactive and not wait for alawsuit to happen."

RELATED ARTICLE: Title IX At a Glance

The National Women's Law Center filed its Title IX complaint withthe U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights in earlyJune. Law Center Officials say they're prepared to file a lawsuit ifschools named in the complaint fail to take appropriate action toadequately address gender equity issues on their respective campuses.

Title IX is the federal law that bans gender discrimination ineducation. Since its inception in 1972, it has served as a major factorin taking women's sport in the United States to a higher level.

The law applies to all public and private schools that receivefederal funds. To comply with Title IX, schools must meet one of threerequirements:

* The percentage of female athletes must be the same proportion asthe percentage of women enrolled as full-time undergraduate students;

* There must be a history of increasing opportunities for women;

* Schools must provide those opportunities in athletics which reflect the interest and abilities of females on that campus.

Colleges that fail to comply face the possibility of losing federalfunding. Implementation of this penalty, however, is rare. In mostinstances, the Office for Civil Rights encourages colleges to make thenecessary changes on their own -- without getting the courts involved.