The Quinnipiac University women’s rugby team, a three-time national champion, was abruptly terminated by school administrators on April 14. The decision has sparked a federal lawsuit from 23 team members, citing unequal treatment based on sex and retaliation against coach Becky Carlson for raising Title IX concerns in the past.

Background

The team’s termination came just two days after hosting a sevens tournament, where they finished third. The program was added as a varsity sport to help remediate a previous Title IX violation. The university plans to replace it with a long-distance men’s track team, consisting primarily of existing varsity athletes.

Coach Carlson has attracted many top athletes from across the country who aspire to play at the international level. However, since the NIRA transfer portal closed on April 1, it has been difficult for these elite female rugby players to find a new home for the fall. The decision to terminate the program appears to be legally questionable, and the lawsuit demands the program’s immediate reinstatement.

Reaction

Former Quinnipiac flanker Marie McCarthy stated, ‘The University’s culture has long felt unsupportive of women who speak out. This Title IX lawsuit is a necessary reckoning for an administration that chose to eliminate a cost-efficient, championship legacy.’ The lawsuit follows a highly visible pattern of Quinnipiac’s extensive history of Title IX litigation, including its recent settlement with the former women’s lacrosse coach.

Original reporting: The Connecticut Mirror — read the source article.