Times' Krulwich is a "culture legend," role model for all
Jackie Carlozzi
Issue date: 10/1/09 Section: Features
In 1969, the 19-year-old Krulwich made a decision that would change history.
The long-standing laws of the university were that no women, children or dogs were allowed on the football field. A slight amendment to the law in the previous year, now allowed dogs on the field. Otherwise, this rule had never been questioned. Until Krulwich.
It was not some immense love for the game of football that drew Krulwich to that field. In fact, Krulwich was not even a football fan, she says.
However, she was savvy enough to know that getting on that football field meant chances and connections that she could not get off the field.
Krulwich believed that saying women could not go on the field was saying to the women, "you cannot have a career in this, this or this," she says.
That one law put female security guards, physical therapists, photographers and reporters among other career possibilities at a disadvantage.
As a University of Michigan student, and photographer for the newspaper, Krulwich felt she had just as much right as anyone to be there.
Her friend Andy Sacks introduced her to the director of sports information, Will Perry. Sacks told Perry that Krulwich should be allowed to cover the game, but Perry, preoccupied by the bustling season opener said he would have to get back to them, she recalls.
Instead of leaving, Krulwich went down to the field and the moment she arrived in her big floppy hat, nobody wanted to be around her, she says.
Her presence was taboo and because everyone feared their press badges being revoked, they kept their distance.
Finding four other staffers to document her move, she headed to the field, camera in hand.
"We just didn't know what was going to happen, but whatever was going to happen, it was going to be known," she explains.
It wasn't long until the bodyguards were threatening to remove Krulwich with force if she did not leave immediately. Instead of giving in to the demands, the petite Krulwich stood her ground against the burly and intimidating guards, she says.
The long-standing laws of the university were that no women, children or dogs were allowed on the football field. A slight amendment to the law in the previous year, now allowed dogs on the field. Otherwise, this rule had never been questioned. Until Krulwich.
It was not some immense love for the game of football that drew Krulwich to that field. In fact, Krulwich was not even a football fan, she says.
However, she was savvy enough to know that getting on that football field meant chances and connections that she could not get off the field.
Krulwich believed that saying women could not go on the field was saying to the women, "you cannot have a career in this, this or this," she says.
That one law put female security guards, physical therapists, photographers and reporters among other career possibilities at a disadvantage.
As a University of Michigan student, and photographer for the newspaper, Krulwich felt she had just as much right as anyone to be there.
Her friend Andy Sacks introduced her to the director of sports information, Will Perry. Sacks told Perry that Krulwich should be allowed to cover the game, but Perry, preoccupied by the bustling season opener said he would have to get back to them, she recalls.
Instead of leaving, Krulwich went down to the field and the moment she arrived in her big floppy hat, nobody wanted to be around her, she says.
Her presence was taboo and because everyone feared their press badges being revoked, they kept their distance.
Finding four other staffers to document her move, she headed to the field, camera in hand.
"We just didn't know what was going to happen, but whatever was going to happen, it was going to be known," she explains.
It wasn't long until the bodyguards were threatening to remove Krulwich with force if she did not leave immediately. Instead of giving in to the demands, the petite Krulwich stood her ground against the burly and intimidating guards, she says.
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Caite Brown
posted 10/04/09 @ 9:32 PM EST
I loved this article! I hope more inspiring stories like this are to come. It's a great direction THE VOICE is taking-- keep it up ladies.
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