University of Iowa agrees to financial payment in Title IX athletics settlement

Hunter
10/07/21

The Cedar Rapids Gazette is reporting on the provisions agreed to by the University of Iowa in their Title IX athletics settlement.

In documents obtained by the paper on Wednesday, the University will pay nearly $400,000 in legal fees and costs to settle the suit, which accused the school of gender equity violations.

The UI previously announced that women’s swimming and diving would be eliminated, but it was reinstated in February after a judge temporarily halted the action. The settlement now commits the University to keeping the program for no less than seven years.

It was announced that women’s wrestling would be added to the athletics roster, and the agreement stipulates that the athletic department post the head coaching job and conduct a national search, leading to a hire no later than spring 2022. Recruiting is to start immediately, the first wrestlers are expected to be on campus for the next academic year, and competition is expected the academic year following that.

The women’s rowing team now has assurances that they will be able to keep a three-year rolling cap of up to 75 total members.

Finally, the Gazette says an outside monitor will be hired to publicly report the UI’s adherence to Title IX gender equity requirements. Gabriel Feldman of Tulane University will monitor the university for three years on equal participation opportunities, equal benefits and treatment, and equal scholarship opportunities. Feldman will issue an annual report on his findings.

In exchange for all the concessions, the six female athletes who instigated the legal proceedings have agreed to drop their lawsuit.

Access to the legal settlement is available under this article on the paper’s website, www.thegazette.com.