Visionary Looks Ahead - Thomas M. Cooley Law School

featurePhoto by Aaron Bernstein / Courtesy of indiana University“IT’S ALL ABOUT FIT, THESE INSTITUTIONS STANDFOR SOMETHING ACADEMICALLY. IT IS THE MOSTIMPORTANT THING… ALWAYS HAS BEEN.”DiAne DieTz (MOReLL CLASS, 1985)In the end, most of the rumors came tonaught. Only the University of Nebraska–Lincoln joined the Big Ten and rumors ofsuper conferences stretching the nation’s borderswere, at this point at least, unfounded.As the rumors died down, people continuedto talk about the reasons behind conferenceexpansion. But according to Dietz, mostpeople missed the mark by not bringingacademics into the debate.“It is all about fit,” said Dietz. “These institutionsstand for something academically. It isthe most important thing… always has been.”The facts seem to back up Dietz’s assertion,as each Big Ten Conference member also isa member of the American Association ofUniversities, a 63-member association of topacademic institutions from across the country.BATTLE TESTEDDietz is somewhat used to performing inthe midst of controversy. Her athleticcareer was at a time of unrest, althoughshe didn’t seem to notice.“I just wanted to compete and have fun,”said Dietz.As a teenager, Dietz was a standout femaleathlete during the installation of Title IX,rules and regulations creating fair and equalopportunities for female athletes on the highschool level. While the sports world wasfighting around her, Dietz was leading herFarmington Hills (Mich.) Mercy High Schoolbasketball team to four straight state finalsappearances, including a 1977 season thatresulted in a state championship and anundefeated season.College was no different for Dietz who arrivedat the University of Michigan in 1979. At thetime, women’s sports weren’t a part of theBig Ten Conference or the National CollegiateAthletic Association (NCAA) that the school’smale athletes had been a part of for decades.Instead, they were in a brand-new, separateassociation called the Association ofIntercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW)that was divided into state regions..8 BENCHMARK FALL 2010 COOLEY.EDU