A former Olympic champion swimmer who is a sexual assault survivor and renowned Title IX attorney will speak on gender equity in sport, in a visit to the UW Oshkosh campus.

Nancy Hogshead-Makar will present Gender Equity in Sport: Why You Should be an Advocate Even If You’ve Never Done a Sit-Up, in a speaking event Wednesday, April 5, that is co-sponsored by Women’s Advocacy Council; UW Oshkosh Women’s Center; Titan Athletics; CARE; and United Women of Oshkosh. Hogshead-Makar’s presentation takes place 7-8:30 p.m. at the UW Oshkosh Alumni Welcome and Conference Center, 625 Pearl Ave. It is free and open to the public.

Hogshead-Makar is a lifelong advocate for access and equality in athletics. A civil rights attorney, an author, public speaker, activist and three-time Olympic swimming champion, she has a commitment to empowerment, using sport as a vehicle for social change. She is chief executive officer of Champion Women, a nonprofit organization leading efforts to advocate for equality and accountability in sport.

Hogshead-Makar said boys are taught early on that they are superior when it comes to sports.

“My daughters ask me why the boys have a scoreboard and restrooms at their field and we don’t,” she said about her 11-year-old twin girls who currently are playing softball. “They are getting (a message) they’re not as important.”

Hogshead-Makar said she’s spoken at 10-15 college campuses per year over the past 30 years.

She has the ability to provide first-hand perspective on sexual victimization among college-aged females; she was sexually assaulted as an undergraduate student in 1981 at Duke University.

A former competitive swimmer, Hogshead-Makar was ranked No. 1 in the world at age 14 in the 200- meter butterfly. At 18, she was a member of the 1980 U.S. Olympic team that boycotted the Moscow Olympics. At 22, she swam in five 1984 Los Angeles Olympic finals and returned home with three gold medals, one silver and one fourth-place finish. She has been inducted into 11 halls of fame.

“She will undoubtedly deliver an engaging and inspiring talk,” said UW Oshkosh Women’s Center Director Alicia Johnson, who stressed the importance of equity in sports at all levels.

Hogshead-Makar has testified in Congress numerous times on the topic of gender equity in athletics, written numerous scholarly and lay articles, serves as an expert witness in Title IX cases and has been a frequent guest on national news programs on the topic.

Additional diversity/inclusion events at UW Oshkosh:

8th-Annual LBGTQ Ally March, is a free event that takes place 5-8 p.m. Thursday, April 13, at Reeve Union, 748 Algoma Blvd. The walk is part of Social Justice Week activities April 10-14. Ballroom doors open at 5 p.m. for a Resource Fair and rally at 5:30 p.m., ally march steps off on High Avenue at 6:30 p.m. The LGBTQ Ally March provides a chance for all to step forward in support of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender friends in our community. Straight allies are considered a cornerstone of the LGBTQ community. The event is dedicated to the acceptance of diversity.

Walk-A-Mile in Her Shoes takes place from 4:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 3 at Reeve Ballroom, is part of an international men’s march to stop rape, sexual assault and gender violence. “Whether someone is wearing heels and a skirt or sweatpants and clogs, there’s no excuse for gendered violence. Grab a pair of heels and walk a mile with us to show that attire is not consent or an excuse for violence,” organizers said. Men are encouraged to wear high heels; women are encouraged to come as they are, wearing heels, tennis shoes, flats, slippers or boots. Donations to support Christine Ann Domestic Abuse Services and Reach Counseling. Prizes awarded for most donations raised, highest heels and other criteria.

7th-Annual Harvey Milk Commemorative Dinner takes place 6-9 p.m. Monday, May 22, at Reeve Memorial Union Ballroom. The fundraiser honors the courage and spirit of Harvey Milk, whose activism set an example of the connection between education and social change. Proceeds support a scholarship fund specifically for LGBTQ+ students at UW Oshkosh and in the Fox Valley.