News

Actions

Federal court determines EMU violated Title IX by cutting women's sports programs

Posted at 9:45 PM, Sep 27, 2018
and last updated 2018-09-28 17:36:09-04

Eastern Michigan University women's sports teams will not be cut after a federal court granted a preliminary injunction to stop the elimination of the programs by the university. 

According to court documents, EMU violated Title IX by eliminating two women's sports teams earlier this year in an effort to cut back on university expenses, a federal court decided Thursday.

The lawsuit was filed after EMU announced in March it would get rid of four sports teams including men's wrestling, men's swimming and diving, women's tennis and women's softball.

On July 17, U.S. District Judge George Caram Steeh heard oral arguments for the case.

The lawsuit was brought by two student athletes. It alleges that EMU failed the Equal Protection Clause by "failing to provide sufficient opportunities for women to participate in athletics." 

A status conference will be held on Oct. 23 to discuss when the court's order will be implemented.

View complete court documents below:  

Emu Title Ix Lawsuit Order and Opinion by WXYZ-TV Channel 7 Detroit on Scribd