A very wise and anonymous person who ended up on a random quotes website once said: “Women who seek to be equal with men lack ambition.”

Amen.

And such was the atmosphere at Thursday evening’s espnW celebration of the 40th anniversary of Title IX, which helped to fight discrimination against women in higher education and athletics.

In attendance were SportsCenter anchor Lindsay Czarniak, astronaut Dr. Sandra Magnus and Olympic gold medalist Julie Foudy, among others.

“I still do weights, I still run, I still swim,” Dr. Magnus told Glittarazzi. She was inducted into the NASA program at age 31. “I haven’t changed my routine since college.”

ESPN has done a lot to highlight the importance of women’s athletics and how it shapes the lives of the women who play. In fact, the June issue of ESPN magazine was dedicated to women in sports and the fight for women’s rights (cue the world’s best protest sign).

So, in honor of the various politicians, policymakers, journalists, professional athletes, entertainers and the occasional astronaut who benefited from Title IX and its effects, espnW cast a photo mosaic on the Newseum’s giant "First Amendment" tablet.

"Here’s to the next 40 years.”

Indeed.

DiD yOu KnOw? ... Title IX is a law passed in 1972 that requires gender equity for boys and girls in every educational program that receives federal funding.  

VIDEO: espnW Unveils Title IX Mosaic At Newseum

More info:

In addition to its ongoing importance on espnW.com, coverage of the 40th anniversary of Title IX continues to be an ESPN companywide initiative across all platforms.

Television: The week of June 17 will feature content on various studio shows, culminating on June 23 with women in sports programming featured across ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, ESPNU, ESPN3 and ESPN Classic throughout the day.

Print: ESPN The Magazine’s first-ever “Women in Sports” issue sheds light on phenomenal women – women who own who they are, control their image, command their careers, and play how they want to play, including a cover  story on Danica Patrick. The Mag also takes a look at how Title IX gave women greater entry into the wide world of sports, and yet how 40 years later, many obstacles are still in their way

ESPN Films: ESPN Films will present “Nine for IX,” a series of documentaries in 2013 that will highlight women in sports, all created by female storytellers. Good Morning America anchor Robin Roberts and Tribeca Productions co-founder Jane Rosenthal are executive producers of the series.

About espnW: espnW’s mission is to connect female fans with the sports they love and follow.  espnW.com provides an engaging environment where women are an integral part of the sports conversation, share their perspective on men’s and women’s sports and find the motivation and support for their athletic goals and interests. Founded in July 2010, espnW, [espnw.com], is an emerging business that consists primarily of a digital product suite including pc web, mobile web and social media.  Founding partners include Nike, Gatorade and P&G (Venus and Secret). espnW is also supported by a strong social media presence on Twitter and Facebook. The Women’s Sports Foundation is a charity of choice of espnW

About the Newseum: The Newseum — a 250,000-square-foot museum of news and history — offers visitors an experience that blends five centuries of news history with up-to-the-second technology and hands-on exhibits. Within its seven levels of galleries and theaters, the Newseum offers a unique environment that takes museum-goers behind the scenes to experience how and why news is made. The museum is ranked one of the top attractions in Washington D.C. Visit newseum.org or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.