Quinnipiac University women’s rugby team files Title IX complaint over program being demoted
The group alleges the program was a cornerstone of Quinnipiac's athletics and the school often celebrated its national success. The team has three national champions and produced Olympic medalist Ilona Maher.
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More than 20 members of Quinnipiac University women’s rugby team filed a Title IX complaint Friday over the school's decision to demote the Division I varsity program to club level earlier this year.
The complaint was filed against Quinnipiac University, its board of trustees, President Marie Hardin and Athletic Director Greg Amodio.
In their complaint, 23 members of the team describe the decision as "particularly troubling because women’s varsity rugby was one of the very programs QU expanded and relied upon following prior Title IX litigation in this very Court concerning inequitable athletic participation opportunities for women."
The group alleges the program was a cornerstone of Quinnipiac's athletics and the school often celebrated its national success. The team has three national champions and produced Olympic medalist Ilona Maher.
The group also claims the university discriminated against women, "providing female student athletes with unequal athletic benefits, treatment, services, resources, and support within its intercollegiate athletics program." They add that instead of addressing those inequalities, the school moved to eliminate the program.
The complaint additionally describes how many players, who chose to attend the university specifically because of its rugby program, were blindsided by the decision and believe the decision leaves athletes and recruits in an "untenable position."
The school had cited "strategic realignment" and "Title IX compliance" as reasons for the move.
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