Women bring Title IX lawsuit against St. Cloud State University

ST. CLOUD, Minn. (KMSP) - A trial is now underway against St. Cloud State University after several women accused the university of offering more athletic opportunities to men.

St. Cloud State University is cutting six programs - both women’s and men’s – sparking some outrage among players. In fact, one group of female athletes decided to sue.

It's a class-action lawsuit that pits nearly a dozen current and former intercollegiate female athletes against SCSU.

In 2016, the university announced a plan to cut six athletic programs including men’s and women’s tennis and women’s nordic skiing. Nine young female student athletes sued.

“We contend that they violated Title IX, which is a law that goes back to 1972. And not only have they violated it, but they, frankly, haven’t been in compliance with the requirements of that law since its enactment,” said attorney Donald Mark Jr.

Title IX of the Education Amendments Act states that no person on the basis of sex be excluded from participating, denied benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination. 

In court, SCSU contends the plan was a cost-saving move.

The girls’ attorney, however, argues that the decision was based on gender.

“To the credit of these young ladies, they’ve never been interested in anything personal to them, they never been, for example, interested in an amount of money paid to them individually. They’re more interested in the question of whether or not this is right,” he said.

Following the lawsuit, the court put a temporary stop on the university’s plans.

Tuesday evening, SCSU released a statement that reads in part, “we are engaged in presenting our case in federal court and cannot comment on pending litigation. St. Cloud State University has a long history of supporting women’s intercollegiate athletics.”

As SCSU celebrates 50 years of women’s athletics, Mark said that this lawsuit could set a precedent not just for women, but for the under-represented.

“I think it is ironic and it’s disappointing that SCSU hasn’t taken this case more seriously. They are obviously defending it, but the right thing to have done would have been this case resolved, to recognize the errors that were made to correct them,” Mark Jr. said.

In addition to suing to keep the programs, the lawsuit is asking for an upgrade in some facilities.
They expect a decision in the case before the end of the year.