Writer's note: As an active participant at these meetings, it is difficult to report completely in news-style on this report. This story will also include my personal reflections on the meetings held, and how they might affect wrestling.    The slogan for the NCAA Title IX Seminar this year is "Listen, Learn, Be Heard."     The first day of the two-day event, held at the swank Hyatt in LaJolla, Calif. on Monday, April 28, certainly had a lot of listening. Exactly what was learned and how much was heard is certainly up for debate.    For somebody from the wrestling community, this seemed like foreign territory. During the mill-around time, before the meetings began, things seemed a bit out of order. There was a resource room, filled with booths from the various women's special interest groups: Women's Sports Foundation, National Association for Girls and Women in Sports, National Association of Women College Athletic Administrators and some group concerning Women in Education. All of their information/propoganda was displayed there.    At a booth, right near registration, the National College Women's Basketball Coaches were selling "Preserve Title IX" t-shirts as a fundraiser.    Nowhere was a sign of any group that does not toe the feminist line - such as the Independent Women's Forum or the College Sports Council. If you look at the list of reference materials in the handout binder, all of the listed materials came from groups seeking to defend the proportionality quota. If you look at the list of participants, women outnumbered men, two to one.     You might say that this could be perceived as a hostile environment for me, and for the wrestling community. The only saving grace is that the NCAA actually agreed to let me attend, even though I do not represent a member institution or conference. NCAA staff member Rosie Stallman receives credit for accepting our request to attend, and standing by her commitment to allow different viewpoints.     We attended meetings from 8:30 a.m. straight through until 5:00 p.m., then I spent an additional 30 minutes talking with former OCR Director Norma Cantu, as well as with a "Civil Rights plaintiff lawyer" named Kristen Gollis. It was a surreal ending to a remarkable day, one that drained every ounce of energy from my body and soul.    I filled almost two full notepads with quotes and notes from the speakers. I did not agree with much of what I heard. Some of it, especially in the address from the NCAA President Myles Brand, made me angry. I did not lose my cool a single time. I chose to participate actively, asking a number of questions at different times to different people. Most of my questions were not answered directly or to my satisfaction.    NCAA Director of Outreach Rosie Stallman opened the session with an introduction of their special guest, former Senator Birch Bayh of Indiana, one of sponsors of the original Title IX legislation. Making the formal presentation of the glass trophy (with the inscription "Father of Title IX") to Bayh was unannounced guest Julie Foudy, the professional women's soccer player and Women's Sports Foundation president who made national headlines as a member of the Commission on Opportunities in Athletics. "On behalf of millions of young girls out there, we wrap our arms around you, hug you and thank you," said Foudy.    Bayh gave a short history of how he got involved in the Title IX issue, giving his wife credit as his "helpmate that gave me a Masters degree in equality." He indicated that "it was evident that the worst discrimination against women was the way that they were treated in schools." He said that his motivation was to create a world "where women and girls are treated the same as men and boys." He also noted that "the intent of Title IX is not to take opportunity away from men but to give it to women."    Next came the keynote speech, provided by NCAA President Myles Brand. As in many of his earlier addresses, Brand spoke with many of the catch phrases and statistics often used by the feminist special interest groups. And, as in other speeches, he took a direct jab at the wrestling community. He was certainly preaching to the choir, but also, as the lead executive of the NCAA, his speech was directed to the press, as well as others outside of this room.    "These are perilous times," said Brand. "The future of Title IX is uncertain. We do not know what Secretary Paige will do with the recommendations of the Commission on Opportunity in Athletics."    Brand went on to say that "several recommendations threaten to weaken Title IX." He voiced concerns that these changes would "freeze lower participation," and "institutionalize discrimination," and even "inhibit future growth." He then asked people to remember 1972, and cited statistics of how little opportunity existed for women then in college sports."    He then addressed those who had challenges with Title IX enforcement, calling them "critics" and questioning their positions and their motives.     "The sport most often cited is wrestling," said Brand. He then used a wrestling leader to challenge the wrestling position, offering a quote from Dr. Peter Likens, the president of the Univ. of Arizona and a former college wrestler who is an Outstanding American in the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. The quote that he read indicated that Likens was "deeply saddened by the loss of opportunities" in wrestling, but that he assigned blame "to the male leadership, not Title IX."    After using selected statistics from the March 2001 GAO study, Brand went on to strongly insist that Title IX is not the reason for the loss in men's opportunities. "The conclusions are clear; the decisions are made at the institutional level and for a variety of reasons. It is because institutions have chosen this direction, not because of Title IX."    "Compliance with the law can not by bypassed," said Brand. "My position is clear; this is the real field of dreams story; if you build it, they will come."    Brand next took on the Office of Civil Rights. He cited a rumor that "the OCR has told staff to suspend reviews because changes are coming. This must be reversed immediately. Nothing is more fatal to civil rights legislation than neglect."    Brand closed the speech sounding like a cheerleader for the special interest groups seeking to defend proportionality.    "Title IX is not broken, and does not mean to be fixed," said Brand. "Now is not the time to say 'close enough' and see the work undone. Now is the time to say 'close the gap.'"    He closed again by using a quote from Dr. Likens.     "I learned to be a university president on the wrestling mats," Brand quoted Likens.     "Athletics participation is a value to both men and women," he closed.    An NCAA staffer reminded everybody that Brand's speech would be prominently displayed on the NCAA web page.    It was time for a short break, and for me to get the heck out of the auditorium. So many thoughts raced through the mind, like whether Brand knew that there was no more wrestling at the Univ. of Arizona, and that Likens could probably never re-start his favorite sport at his institution due to Title IX considerations.     One thing was clear to me. Brand did not use the Likens quotes to bring any specific enlightenment to his audience. It was a blatant stab at the wrestling community, using one of wrestling's own alumni to belittle those seeking Title IX reform.    Next came a meeting of many members of the Commission on Opportunities in Athletics, along with Judith Sweet, the NCAA's Senior Administrator. Exactly how Sweet fits in with the Commission members is still unclear to me, but it made good drama.    Commission co-chair Ted Leland was the moderator, saying serving as the co-chair was a "privlege" and that it was an "interesting trip." He said that he was "flabbergasted by the interest in Title IX and the support for Title IX. I was amazed by the passion for sport and pleased by the process."    Leland defended the individual commissioners motives, something he had to do during the hearings many times. "People gave us cynical motives," said Leland. "They took off