[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 98 (Wednesday, June 27, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Page S4683]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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SENATE RESOLUTION 511--COMMENDING THE PACIFIC LUTHERAN UNIVERSITY LUTES 
    SOFTBALL TEAM FOR WINNING THE 2012 NATIONAL COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC 
             ASSOCIATION DIVISION III SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

  Ms. CANTWELL (for herself and Mrs. Murray) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 511

       Whereas, on May 21, 2012, the Pacific Lutheran University 
     Lutes (referred to in this preamble as ``the PLU Lutes'') 
     Softball Team defeated the Linfield College Wildcats by a 
     score of 3-0 to win the National Collegiate Athletic 
     Association Division III Softball Championship;
       Whereas this victory is the first softball championship for 
     Pacific Lutheran University in its history, as well as its 
     first national championship since 1999;
       Whereas the PLU Lutes Softball Team finished the 2012 
     season with a record of 45 wins and 11 losses, breaking the 
     record at Pacific Lutheran University for most wins in a 
     season;
       Whereas the PLU Lutes Softball Team also broke the school 
     record for most runs scored and most total bases in a season;
       Whereas senior pitcher Stacy Hagensen was named the 
     tournament's Most Outstanding Player by allowing only 3 hits 
     and giving up no runs;
       Whereas the team members and coaches of the PLU Lutes 
     Softball Team have set an example of leadership for women in 
     collegiate athletics;
       Whereas PLU Lutes Softball Team head coach Erin Van 
     Nostrand, associate head coach Greg Seeley, and assistant 
     coaches Tiffany McVay, Dena Harkovitch, and Dena Slye led the 
     team to the championship with their leadership and winning 
     philosophy;
       Whereas the PLU Lutes Softball Team exemplifies the mission 
     of title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. 
     1681 et seq.) (referred to in this preamble as ``Title IX''), 
     which Congress enacted to ensure that gender discrimination 
     did not interfere with educational opportunities;
       Whereas the passage of Title IX has led to a 574 percent 
     increase in female participation in college sports and a 
     1,000 percent increase in female participation in high school 
     sports;
       Whereas, before Title IX, only 2 percent of the college 
     students participating in sports were female;
       Whereas, in 2001, 43 percent of the college students 
     participating in sports were female;
       Whereas, by a 3-1 ratio, female athletes perform better in 
     school and have higher graduation rates than females who do 
     not participate in sports;
       Whereas student-athletes have higher annual graduation 
     rates than their classmates who do not participate in sports; 
     and
       Whereas the success of the 2012 PLU Lutes Softball Team 
     demonstrates the accomplishments that a team can achieve when 
     each player adopts a teamwork mentality: Now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) commends the Pacific Lutheran University Lutes 
     (referred to in this resolution as the ``PLU Lutes'') 
     Softball Team for winning the 2012 National Collegiate 
     Athletic Association Division III Softball Championship;
       (2) recognizes the people of Washington State for their 
     support of the PLU Lutes Softball Team;
       (3) honors the achievements of every player, coach, and 
     support staff who was instrumental in the success of the PLU 
     Lutes Softball Team during the 2012 season; and
       (4) requests the Secretary of the Senate to transmit an 
     enrolled copy of this resolution for appropriate display to 
     the PLU Lutes Softball Team.

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