Karen Rudolph brings ‘Sidelined No Longer’ and its Stephens Roots to Life During Campus Book Talk
On Sunday, Stephens College hosted author Karen Rudolph for a talk exploring the history and impact of women’s collegiate athletics, linking early pioneers to today’s rapidly growing sports landscape.
Dozens sat in on the discussion centered on Rudolph’s book, ‘Sidelined No Longer: The Untold Story of Women’s College Sports,’ which traces the rise of women’s college athletics through the experiences of early leaders, including Jean Cerra, a former Stephens instructor and coach.
“I was so pleased to receive an invitation from Shannon Walls to speak at Stephens,” said Rudolph. “I always love being back in Columbia.”
While Rudolph is a University of Missouri graduate, her book, in part focuses on Cerra, who taught and coached volleyball at Stephens from 1971-1976.
“Hosting Karen Rudolph felt like a natural fit for Stephens College,” said Chief of Staff, Shannon Walls. “Her book tells the story of women who refused to be sidelined, who fought for equal opportunity, equal recognition, and a seat at the table.”
Jean Cerra and the origins of women’s athletics
Rudolph used her book to highlight the “hidden figures” behind today’s explosion in women’s sports. Focusing on the stories of 11 women, including Cerra, Rudolph share their struggles, triumphs and the work it took to build college athletics, including the monumental passing of Title IX.
At Stephens, Cerra taught kinesiology, sports techniques and physical education, setting rigorous academic and athletic expectation.
Eventually, Cerra left Stephens to take on the task of helping build women’s sports programs at the University of Missouri. There, Cerra stepped into the role of Women’s Athletic Director, where she, along with eleven other administrators, challenged the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women’s limiting vision and advocated for more effective approach to achieving equality.
Title IX was enacted by congress and signed into law by Richard Nixon in 1972. The law prohibited sex discrimination in any educational program or activity receiving any type of federal financial aid.
Preserving the History of Women’s Sports
Rudolph’s research was focused on preserving stories of the women that might have otherwise been lost to history.
“Women’s stories deserve to be heard,” said Rudolph. “They are stories of resilience and courage, or changing minds and perceptions, in an era when women’s sports were largely ignored.”
More than 100 hours of interviews and archival research across multiple institutions went into the creation of Rudolph’s book.
“These stories might have been forgotten,” said Rudolph. “I spent hours digging into files and interviewing the men and women who built the foundation for what we see today.”
About the Author
Karen Rudolph pulled from her own life experiences to help shape this story.
As a former University of Missouri student-athlete, Rudolph competed in basketball and softball, while serving on a campus committee evaluating the implementation of Title IX.
“It was eye-opening and somewhat overwhelming,” said Rudolph. “But those experiences guided me throughout writing Sidelined No Longer.”
After graduation, Rudolph wrote sports features and covered women’s high school, college and professional sports for the Columbia Daily Tribune. She later moved to Southern California where she worked in sports media at Sports Spectrum Magazine as the managing editor.
Rudolph is also the Author of ‘Grace and Glory: Profiles of Faith and Courage in the Lives of Top Women Athlete,’ she has served as a columnist and assistant editor at Mountain News in Lake Arrowhead, California, and most recently, she has coached varsity basketball and softball for the last 20 years.
Advice for Stephens Athletes
“For the women athletes at Stephens College: there are new chapters to be written and new goals to attain,” said Rudolph.
“Open doors for others; pursue connections with decision-makers. And most of all, be grateful for the opportunities that you do get; make the most of them and push for more. Write a thank you note–yes, in an envelope with a stamp on it–to communicate that gratitude. Read the book, share the book, spread the word. WE are—SIDELINED NO LONGER.”
Rudolph said she hopes that those who attended the event or read her book take away just how important it is to organize and come together to make a difference.
