Los Medanos College Athletic Director Richard Villegas held an interest meeting on Oct. 24 for female athletes to see if they would like to play tennis or be on a swim team, but no one showed up.

According to Villegas students were polled while applying to LMC to see what collegiate sports they were interested in.  He added that the information also discussed eligibility, commitment, and level of experience.

Flyers were distributed throughout the college and was posted on the college’s website.

“There were about 12 to 15 flyers in the second and third floor, the library, as well as in Student Life,” said Director of Student Life Demetria Lawrence.

Some flyers were also sent to the Brentwood campus.

The meeting was held in an effort to be in compliance with Title IX.

Title IX “is a federal law prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sex in all education programs and activities operated by recipients of federal funds,” according to the Office of Civil Rights.

The documents states: “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 educational program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”

According to current rosters from the LMC website there are 48 woman athletes versus 130 male athletes — there are 79 on the football roster alone.

“We have to represent the underrepresented gender,” said Villegas.

Despite there being more male athletes than female ones, LMC is in compliance with Title IX because an effort was made to represent women athletes.

“There was a held meeting, it was advertised, and no one showed,’ said Villegas.

However, according to Villegas, just because there is a meeting doesn’t necessarily mean there will be a team.

Tennis and swimming were scheduled to start Jan. 15. Tennis was supposed to have 26 matches, and swim team was supposed to have 11 meets.  Team minimums are ten players for tennis and 15 for swimming to be competitive in a league.

For more information on sports or how to join a team contact Athletic Director Richard Villegas at 4390-2181 ext. 3332.