Hunter
12/23/20
A federal judge is granting an injunction that blocks the University of Iowa from dropping women’s swimming from the 2021-2022 athletic menu.
The Title IX complaint was filed by four female UI athletes, who said the university was violating Title IX, further stifling opportunities for women athletes by dropping the swimming and diving teams in an effort to make up for a $65 million loss of revenue because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The injunction was granted by District Judge Stephanie Rose after two days of hearings on the case. She agreed with the plaintiff’s reasoning that the teams would suffer irreparable harm if they were dropped while the case was making its way through the system.
Ahead of the injunction, four of the team’s six coaches and over a dozen athletes have taken new jobs or committed to another school in the future. A handful of athletes are currently in transfer portals.
The suit also asks the University of Iowa to create additional sports for women.