Financial decision or a violation of students’ rights? Learning Process

Financial decision or a violation of students’ rights?

Written on June 30, 2011 – 11:50 pm | by Justin Fraser

Can university officials demote a team to club status to stay compliant with Title IX?

The University of Delaware (UD) demoted the mens varsity track and cross country team to club status, claiming the decision was a financial one.

UD doesnt have the funds to expand the womens track and cross country team, according to school officials.

To be compliant with Title IX, schools must be able to show one or more of the following:

the ratio of women and men competing in athletics match the proportions of undergraduate students attending the university
a history of expansion of the underrepresented sexs athletic programs, or
full accommodation of the underrepresented sexs interest in athletics.

But members of the mens team filed a complaint with the Office for Civil Rights (OCR), saying UD violated the second and third prongs of Title IX by arbitrarily demoting the mens varsity track and cross country team instead of accommodating Title IXs goal of expansion.

Since learning about the teams complaint, school officials have agreed to mediation to try to solve the problem before OCR investigates and issues a ruling.

Well keep you posted on the official outcome.

What do you think? Was this smart financial planning or a violation of students rights? Chime in below.

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