Woman Behind Pink Locker Room Controversy Returns to Iowa City

By Justin Foss, Reporter

By Claire Kellett

IOWA CITY - At Kinnick Stadium Saturday, the focus wasn't just on a bowl game. Jill Gaulding was revving up her campaign to get rid of the pink visitors locker room. Two years ago, Gaulding and another faculty member left the university after protesting the locker room. Now they say the color and the reasoning behind it send a homophobic and sexist message to others. Two years ago the university ruled to keep the locker rooms, but Gaulding says the issues isn't over.

The president's office at the university tells TV-9 News it is not revisiting the issue.

View comments

The following comments do not necessarily represent the views of KCRG-TV9. Users have agreed to these terms and in doing so accept full responsibility for their comments. Moderation is limited.

Thursday, Dec 27 at 9:08 PM Wondering in Texas wrote ...

Reading this from Texas is absolutely hilarious. Liberal wackos running the show Iowa -- no wonder they've never done squat in college football. They let the administration get tied up in this mess!. Let me guess, she's gonna use this to run for office next on the 'pink ticket' You are spending all of your time worrying about the color of the locker room. Good Gravy, get a grip. You Yankees absolutely crack me up!! I think i will bookmark this page for humor. Homer Simpson had it right -

Monday, Dec 17 at 1:13 PM Kyle wrote ...

It's called Psychological warfare baby

Thursday, Dec 13 at 3:37 PM Arizonahawk wrote ...

Jilly Jilly, I find it funny how you talk about Civil Rights with this issue. You obviously do not know that Hayden Fry did more for civil rights in this country then you could ever do. Google Hayden Fry and learn about what he did in the South.

Wednesday, Dec 5 at 9:55 AM cyberhawki wrote ...

Jill's position is a straw man argument... the pink locker room was intended to invoke pacifism in the opposing football team... It was Jill who equated the the pink locker rooms to sexism and homophobia...

Monday, Dec 3 at 8:07 PM Eric wrote ...

The real sexist person is her because she is the one tying the color pink to women (and homosexuals). Hayden only intended for the locker room to be calming. I wish this lady would quit trying to make a name for herself and move on....

Monday, Dec 3 at 3:06 PM Brady wrote ...

"The president's office at the university tells TV-9 News it is NOT revisiting the issue." Thank you!!

Tuesday, Nov 20 at 2:27 PM Fudgester wrote ...

Funny only one comment in support of her and it is from her. Far as I'm concern you can paint the whole campus pink.

Tuesday, Nov 20 at 8:32 AM Anonymous wrote ...

Jill Gaulding needs to pull up her big girl panties and get over it.

Tuesday, Nov 20 at 6:42 AM hawkfan07 wrote ...

WHAT IS HER PROBLEM?!?! It's a locker room, it's always been pink, so leave it that way! Pink is but a color. I think she has issues.

Tuesday, Nov 20 at 12:41 AM Randy Crawford wrote ...

Jill Gaulding is an example of what we get when we have the wrong kinds of people on the payroll of our state institutions. Maybe she belongs in a diffent kind of state institution.

Tuesday, Nov 20 at 12:10 AM NOTAHAWK wrote ...

I AM NOT A HAWK FAN, BUT WHAT IS THIS LADY THINKING? SOUNDS TO ME LIKE SHE IS A HOMOPHOBE AND A SEXIST BOTH AND NEEDS TO GET A LIFE!!!

Monday, Nov 19 at 9:09 PM MAT LOUVAR wrote ...

WAH WAH WAH ALL THE WAY HOME JILL, YOU KNOW JACK LIKED THE COLOR PINK ...RIGHT???? QUIT WETTING THE BED AND GET OVER IT. MAYBE YOU SHOULD HAVE COFFEE WITH KAREN CUBBY AND KIM PAINTER. I THINK LONY PULKRABEK SHOULD PAINT THE JAIL CELLS PINK!! MAT L.

Monday, Nov 19 at 5:13 PM Poor Jill wrote ...

Maybe Jill could petition the higher courts of all humanity to eliminate the color pink entirely from our color spectrum. Perhaps that would make her happy. What's next Jill? Lilac?

Monday, Nov 19 at 2:31 PM John wrote ...

I think our own team has been spending way too much time in the pink locker room lately. Way too much time.

Monday, Nov 19 at 2:21 PM Hawkfan4ever wrote ...

I thought most women liked pink. She must be a feminist.

Monday, Nov 19 at 1:41 PM Anonymous wrote ...

Who said homosexuals weren't good at football?

Monday, Nov 19 at 1:24 PM Homer Simpson wrote ...

I say we also ban the song "Little Pink Houses" from radio play. I just get so upset listening to that song. And now pink locker rooms. What's next? Pink flamingos in everyones yard? Now that is going too far!

Monday, Nov 19 at 1:14 PM Homer Simpson wrote ...

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm,pink locker room.......

Monday, Nov 19 at 12:20 PM Hawkeye Fan wrote ...

I can't belive this Jill. Isn't there other things in the world to worry about than a pink locker room? How petty. Get a life

Monday, Nov 19 at 11:15 AM Emily wrote ...

You'd think as a faculty memeber as a university she would realize she is labeling pink as a homophobic color herself- it was never said it was used to create a 'homophobic feeling', if this is how she saw it, she wasn't an asset to the university.

Monday, Nov 19 at 11:11 AM Jimminy Croquets wrote ...

NY Times 1/8/06 Coach Hayden Fry had the locker room for visiting football teams painted pink, figuring that the color might lull opponents into tamer play. The university took this one step further. Many drunk tanks and jail cells are painted pink.

Monday, Nov 19 at 11:05 AM Punxsutawney Phillip wrote ...

I believe the Hawkeyes should continue the noble cause of raising awareness, and campaigning for a cure for breast cancer, regardless of the quibblers, not just in Pink October, but year-round... PS. Can Jill clean-catch a kickoff?

Monday, Nov 19 at 10:28 AM Pink Panther wrote ...

Hayden Fry used the pink for it's calming effect (Psychology 101). So to make it a homophobic/sexist thing is this womans own bias. That is what SHE thinks about when SHE sees pink. The lady doth protest too much, methinks.

Monday, Nov 19 at 9:27 AM Jeff wrote ...

What amazes me is that with all of the suffering people in the world, thisis what she feels she was called to do. Have her explain to someone dying of AIDS that it bothers her there is a pink locker room in Kinnick.

Monday, Nov 19 at 8:42 AM kalona ia wrote ...

Black is a common color of my community....black(supposely) means aggression....hahahaha....so watch it when you come to our community, girl

Monday, Nov 19 at 8:31 AM Anonymous wrote ...

isn't the reason for making the locker room pink to distract the visitors, i don't think it has anything to do with sexism whatsoever.

Monday, Nov 19 at 7:53 AM bob wrote ...

maybe we should paint Iowa's locker room and Kirk's office pink until we have a winning record

Monday, Nov 19 at 7:46 AM Katy wrote ...

Jill, how many times a week do you sit in the "Pink" locker room? If those who spend a majority of there time in there do care what color it is then neither should you! You should spend your useless time focusing on something more important!

Monday, Nov 19 at 7:35 AM Kris wrote ...

One of the ideas behind the pink locker rooms is so that the other team gets so focused on the color of the room, they're not focused on the game. Also, pink is a "calming" color. I don't think either of those reasons are homophobic or sexist.

Monday, Nov 19 at 4:48 AM jamessurratt55@msn.com wrote ...

The idea behind the pink locker room was that it was supposed to pacify the opposing team before they came out to play. Considering the fact that Iowa lost to teams such as Western Michigan, doesn't look like it's working.

Monday, Nov 19 at 4:23 AM joey wrote ...

buy some paint and re-paint yourself if its such a big deal. you got money to campigan agianst it then you got the money to pay for it and the time to re-paint it. put up or shut up!! lol........joey

Sunday, Nov 18 at 11:38 PM concerned reader wrote ...

I have a better question. Why do KCRG and the Gazette hire people who write like this?: "Now they say the color and reasoning behind the it send a..." "...but Gaulding says the issues isn't over..."

Sunday, Nov 18 at 11:03 PM Nathan wrote ...

Can she play quarterback?

Sunday, Nov 18 at 9:39 PM MM wrote ...

Hey, let's paint the water tower pink and really tick her off! C'mon lady, if you dont like the pink locker rooms, that is your perrogative. I don't like activist morons either, but you don't hear me complaining that you are back in Iowa City..yet!

Sunday, Nov 18 at 9:13 PM iowacityvice wrote ...

i would think one could find a more worthy cause to fight for.

Sunday, Nov 18 at 5:49 PM Jeff McL wrote ...

Clearly this snob is from Western Michigan or maybe she is related to Steve Alford.

Sunday, Nov 18 at 5:37 PM Colors wrote ...

Maybe we should just go to a colorless world then!!!

Sunday, Nov 18 at 5:35 PM Anon. wrote ...

Jill, get over it!! You need to find a new way to draw attention to yourself. You will never win this battle, as there is not even a war going on! LONG LIVE PINK!!!!!!

Sunday, Nov 18 at 4:53 PM Phil McCracken wrote ...

Jill....Go find a new tree to hug!!!!

Sunday, Nov 18 at 4:00 PM Clint wrote ...

Wow lady get a life.

Sunday, Nov 18 at 3:55 PM Hawk Fan wrote ...

Maybe Jill should try and get rid of the Black and Gold colors of the Hawks too? Doesn't black have a violent undertone to it also? I mean geez Jill, maybe the football players shouldn't pat each other on the rear end after a good play? Get a life!

Sunday, Nov 18 at 3:25 PM John wrote ...

Well she has now had her 15 mins. of fame

Sunday, Nov 18 at 2:57 PM Gayle wrote ...

Isn't there more important battles going on in the world such as our men and women over in Iraq? Pick and choose your battles and decide what is worth fighting for. Is this really that important?

Sunday, Nov 18 at 2:43 PM Beans wrote ...

I happen to like pink :P

Sunday, Nov 18 at 2:24 PM Anonymous wrote ...

This issue needs to stop JILL! You really need to look at bigger issues than a pink locker room. Obviously you have no life outside of campaigning for meaningless issues.

Sunday, Nov 18 at 2:22 PM Anonymous wrote ...

I don't feel like a pink locker room is much of a concern. But the way people are responding to this is. How rude can you be? She obviously feels strongly about this, why not let her be passionate? It's no one's life but hers, let her live it her way

Sunday, Nov 18 at 12:37 PM Jill Gaulding wrote ...

If any reader is interested in the full facts underlying my objection, I can be reached at jill.gaulding@comcast.net. I will be happy to email you the PLR FAQ. Thanks to all the Hawkeye fans who stopped by on Saturday to discuss the issue.

Sunday, Nov 18 at 11:35 AM MIKE wrote ...

WORRY ABOUT SOMETHING IMPORTANT, AFTER YOUR APPT. WITH A SHRINK. A PINK LOCKER ROOM, HOW HORRIBLE LOL.

Sunday, Nov 18 at 11:32 AM Brian wrote ...

Maybe she needs to sit in the pink locker room for a while and calm down.

Sunday, Nov 18 at 11:06 AM Chris wrote ...

Get over the pink thing and get back to the east coast and leave us alone. You left and nobody else has said anything about it until you came back.Your not wanted here...BYE

Sunday, Nov 18 at 9:19 AM Audrey wrote ...

I hope you are reading all this. Back in the day PINK was in -if you wore PINK you were cool/tough. Today it's back in and the guys who were PINK are COOL/PHAT. Get over it; get job and a life.

Sunday, Nov 18 at 7:27 AM Luke wrote ...

It's like anything else today, 100,000 can be fine with something, but one person takes offense to it. if she wants the color changed, she can pay for it herself. Then when it's done, i'll complain to have it changed again. It's only fair.

Sunday, Nov 18 at 6:17 AM Anonymous wrote ...

the human race has now become truly pathetic

Sunday, Nov 18 at 3:02 AM Carl wrote ...

Not to mention, Hayden Fry's tradition also was used in Carver-Hawkeye arena lockerroms where both MEN and WOMEN play, which definately rules out the sexist aspect of the whole thing.

Sunday, Nov 18 at 2:45 AM Anonymous wrote ...

She's still having a fit over this? Wow, can we put her in the pink locker room and see if it calms her down?

Sunday, Nov 18 at 1:52 AM Kenny wrote ...

Well then she should complain about the UIHC the psych wards, many of there rooms are pink, it calms you down and prevents agression.

Sunday, Nov 18 at 12:51 AM Ben wrote ...

For crying out loud Jill, LET IT GO! Our tradition has NOTHING to do with sexism or homophobia. You've admitted to never even being in EITHER pink locker room once, so you clearly have no idea what you're talking about. You will not succeed.

Saturday, Nov 17 at 11:42 PM Amber wrote ...

Perhaps we should just ban the color pink entirely ! Obviously someone has way too much time on her hands!

Saturday, Nov 17 at 10:58 PM Anonymous wrote ...

get over it, gosh its just a locker room, just another person tryin to make money.

Saturday, Nov 17 at 10:45 PM Rob wrote ...

Seriously if thats something you have to worry about in your life you must have a very boring life. Does she have to goin there? I think not. Get over yourself lady.

Saturday, Nov 17 at 10:44 PM Katie wrote ...

Who cares what color the locker room is.

Saturday, Nov 17 at 10:11 PM Rachel wrote ...

Get over it lady its a pink locker room there are more inportant things in life than this. Maybe you should spend your time and energy on world hunger and not a pink locker room you dont see the other players crying over it.

Saturday, Nov 17 at 10:06 PM Hawkeye Fan wrote ...

She's just trying to get more publicity. Oow is the color pink sexits or homophobic? It was just a few years ago that pink was the new black, and stars, both male and female were wearing it on the red carpet.

Saturday, Nov 17 at 9:50 PM Rob wrote ...

I thought the reason Hayden Fry painted it that color was it had a soothing affect.

Saturday, Nov 17 at 9:09 PM Brent wrote ...

She needs to get a life and worry about more important things.

Saturday, Nov 17 at 8:57 PM Anonymous wrote ...

Get over it chick, its a locker room.

Add a comment

Name:

Comment: 500 Characters Left

By submitting a comment to this web site, I affirm that I have read, understand, agree to and shall abide by the following rules and regulations as a term and condition of all comments which I may post. As terms and conditions of using this KCRG web site, I agree that I am fully responsible for the contents of all statements which I make. To the best of my knowledge, all such statements are true, fair, and accurate. I shall not post any statements which attack a person’s integrity or moral character, expose a person to public hatred, contempt or ridicule, deprive a person of the benefits of public confidence and social dealings, or injure a person in the maintenance of that person’s business. I shall not knowingly post content that violates the copyright, trademark, patent or other intellectual property right of a third person. I shall not post content that is false, liable, defamatory, obscene, abusive, that violates a person’s right to privacy, that otherwise violates any applicable local, state, national or international law or that is otherwise inappropriate. I acknowledge that if I post a comment which violates this policy that an offended person to whom comments are directed may have a right through judicial process to determine my identity and make a claim against me for damages. I agree that I shall indemnify KCRG, its employees, agents, representatives and affiliates from any and all expenses KCRG may incur as a result of comments I post which violate this policy, claims and/or damages, including but not limited to reasonable attorney’s fees and costs. KCRG is not responsible for the contents posted or anything arising out of the use of the contents or other interaction and has no obligation or duty to monitor or control any posting but does reserve the right to screen, refuse to post, remove, or edit user generated comment.

I have read and agree to the terms

Hide comments
Athlete of the Week
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.
More On Demand

What's On KCRG

11:00
KCRG-TV9 News at Midday
12:00
All My Children
1:00
One Life to Live
2:00
General Hospital