Judge Rules Against Quinnipiac U. in Title IX Case

A federal judge in Connecticut has ruled that Quinnipiac University violated Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 by failing to provide equal opportunities for athletics participation to female students.

In a 95-page opinion, District Judge Stefan R. Underhill called for Quinnipiac to produce within 60 days a plan detailing how it will come into compliance with Title IX regulations for the 2010-11 academic year.

The ruling also said that a varsity cheerleading team, which the university created this past year, may not be considered a varsity sport for purposes of complying with federal gender-equity law.

Members of the women’s volleyball team, along with their coach, had sued Quinnipiac last spring after the private university said it would cut the team—along with men’s golf and men’s outdoor track—to save money. Judge Underhill later ordered the university to reinstate the volleyball team while the case was pending.

We’ll have more details of the ruling later today.