In response to Chris Sigley’s recent story titled “NIU coeds highlight recruit’s visits,” we would like to suggest a comparable program for Northern’s women athletic recruits—in the spirit of Title IX of the education amendments of 1972.

Agile, skillful and talented though she is, with a fearless killer instinct, the female basketball player is very apprehensive inside.

As a high school senior wanting to play college basketball, she must start from scratch and regress to being a freshman again at a school she knows little or nothing about.

The NIU prospective recruit needs 25 or so “ruggedly handsome” male students about her age to ask questions of.

We would like to suggest creation of a “Huskie Hunks” corps. The Hunks would have two main purposes—to help orient the recruit and to promote Huskie basketball. The Hunks, of course, must be sensitive to the feelings of the woman athlete, who is usually intimidated and overwhelmed about being at a university for the first time. The Hunk should demonstrate an excited enthusiasm that is contagious. In fact, he should be vivacious and excited about NIU, basketball and life. In addition, he should show the recruit the non-basketball side of life. In turn, the Hunk will have endless opportunities to develop grace, poise and self-confidence.

The Hunk must, however, refrain from any after-hours hosting. He should not be admitted on hotel floors. And while his role is to make the women athletes more comfortable, they should not get too comfortable.

Diane Strand, Public Information

Elizabeth Bass, Development and Alumni Relations

Susan Lund, Development and Alumni Relations

Kit Hakanson, Office of Public Information

Joanne Dillman, V.P. Development and University Relations

Winnie Sparrow, Development and Alumni Relations

Peggy Teboda, Development and Alumni Relations

Robert Woggan, Director of Public Information

Steve Franklin, Public Information