update on "sabre sweeties"

update on "sabre sweeties"

Post by solom.. » Fri, 03 Dec 1993 23:32:23


Update on my attempt to fence sabre at the San Fran Circuit:

        Well, it seems that the people contributing their opinions on the net
are far more enlightened than our elected (and appointed) leaders in
Colorado Springs.  From Carla Mae Richards in the office to Vice President
Bill Goering, I have been fed the same archaic rational.  I have been told
that, quite simply, there is no women's event, and the event offered is not
mixed.  Period.  My participation would invalidate the results of the North
America Cup as it is a national team qualifying event, and there is no
Women's sabre in international competition.  Furthermore, the only recourse
I have (and this has been verified by the U.S. Olympic Committee Legal
Council) is to send in an appeal to the tournament committee led by Michael
Massik, who I will be speaking to soon, I hope.  This appeal will be presented
to the National Executive Committee who will decide if there is enough interest
and need for a women's sabre event to be included at future circuit events.
So, basically for now, I'm shit outta luck.  

        I am, however, very pleased to hear that alot of Texan women are
fencing sabre these days (I'm a longhorn alum).  Lots of areas are seeing
a large development of women's sabre.  In New England alone, we have at least
a dozen--more than double what we had last year.  In New York there are a
large number of women at NYU training very hard in Women's sabre, and
***ia almost sent two teams to nationals last year!  I think that if we
are to have any chance at not only national competition, but even the
olympics, all of these women are going to have to make a very concerted
effort to compete at nationals in Salt Lake city this summer.  The USFA has
already stated that if at least 64 women compete there, the following year,
Women's sabre will be included as a DIV I event.  It's a very important step
towards international recognition.

        In the meantime, alot of y'all made some very good points about the
stupidity of excluding women from competing in sabre.  I urge all of y'all
to tell any women sabre fencers you know to get involved, either writing
letters, or registering for the circuit events, just to let the USFA know
that the interest is out there!  If you men or women's foilists and epeeists
also wanted to let the USFA know how you feel, I'm sure it wouldn't hurt!

        I'll got off my soap box now.

                                                Sara.  

 
 
 

update on "sabre sweeties"

Post by Stan Yen - Sun BOS Hardware - Scan Gru » Sat, 04 Dec 1993 06:57:00

Since it was never mentioned, I'll just drop in another 2 cents. To
paraphrase my wife:  "2 Words: Sue 'em" (Does "'em" count as a word?)

I understand the points that the USFA is making but I'll explain where
Martina is coming from on this one.

A few years back, (I think it was in the summer of '90) Martina fenced
in the Men's Epee Western NY qualifying tournament for the Empire State
Games (since there was no Women's Epee).  She took 3rd (hey, this was a
few year's ago, back when Cornell was making her fence foil...) and
qualified for the games.  There was apparently no problem at the qualifying
event.  A short while later, she received a letter from the governing
committee of the Games which more or less stated that, no, she could
not fence in the tournament because it was a *Men's* epee event.

She sued.  (found a lawyer in the ACLU who was happy to take the case
at no charge to her)  They let her fence.  Never made it to court.

There are some differences in this case, of course.
1.  This wasn't a 'National Team qualifying event'
2.  I think that the Empire State Games are state run, i.e. public.
    private clubs and associations can always make up their own rules.

This obviously is not a 'let's not make waves at the USFA' option, and
having heard how wonderfully political the USFA can be, may not be in
your best interests in the long run.  In fact, it probably isn't in my
best interests to discuss taking legal action against the USFA or even
elude to how, er, y'know, what I said before...

ahem.

Anyway, catch you later.

-Stan "This is probably going to get back to Carla Mae" Ye... er, Smith... ;)

 
 
 

update on "sabre sweeties"

Post by Peter Dickinson M » Sun, 05 Dec 1993 04:48:41

Quote:

> Update on my attempt to fence sabre at the San Fran Circuit:

[Stuff deleted]

Quote:
>    I am, however, very pleased to hear that alot of Texan women are
> fencing sabre these days (I'm a longhorn alum).  Lots of areas are seeing
> a large development of women's sabre.  In New England alone, we have at least
> a dozen--more than double what we had last year.  In New York there are a
> large number of women at NYU training very hard in Women's sabre, and
> ***ia almost sent two teams to nationals last year!  I think that if we
  ^^^^^^^^
> are to have any chance at not only national competition, but even the
> olympics, all of these women are going to have to make a very concerted
> effort to compete at nationals in Salt Lake city this summer.  The USFA has
> already stated that if at least 64 women compete there, the following year,
> Women's sabre will be included as a DIV I event.  It's a very important step
> towards international recognition.

What group in ***ia?  It wasn't UVa.  We have some women who
fool around with sabre now and then, but certainly not enough
with experience to field any kind of team.  We always struggle
to even field a foil team for local meets.

Pete.

 
 
 

update on "sabre sweeties"

Post by Daniel P. Vun » Sun, 05 Dec 1993 10:47:47


Quote:

>> Update on my attempt to fence sabre at the San Fran Circuit:
>[Stuff deleted]

>>        I am, however, very pleased to hear that alot of Texan women are
>> fencing sabre these days (I'm a longhorn alum).  Lots of areas are seeing
>> a large development of women's sabre.  In New England alone, we have at least
>> a dozen--more than double what we had last year.  In New York there are a
>> large number of women at NYU training very hard in Women's sabre, and
>> ***ia almost sent two teams to nationals last year!  I think that if we
>  ^^^^^^^^
>> are to have any chance at not only national competition, but even the
>> olympics, all of these women are going to have to make a very concerted
>> effort to compete at nationals in Salt Lake city this summer.  The USFA has
>> already stated that if at least 64 women compete there, the following year,
>> Women's sabre will be included as a DIV I event.  It's a very important step
>> towards international recognition.
>What group in ***ia?  It wasn't UVa.  We have some women who
>fool around with sabre now and then, but certainly not enough
>with experience to field any kind of team.  We always struggle
>to even field a foil team for local meets.
>Pete.

The  womens sabre Team from ***ia was the Olde Town Fencers Gang.  
It included Diane Ferguson, and Sandy Harris.  (Sorry, I have
forgeton who else was on the team)
The they placed second in the team event, and Diane also took second
in the individual event. (they all earned there C ranking)

There are many female sabre fencers in VA.  In some tournaments,
there are almost half of the sabre fencers. (Usually, there are at
least 2 or 3 women fencing sabre, and they are quite good.)

Dan Vunck
VCU Fencing Club