Neena Chaudhry is senior counsel and director of equal opportunities in athletics for the National Women’s Law Center.
Student-athletes rarely file complaints against their schools for fear that they might lose their scholarships.
Second, the complaint utilized a novel legal strategy. The students alleged that field hockey coach Tracey Griesbaum was fired for using the same hard-charging coaching tactics as male coaches. By firing Griesbaum, the players contended, the university had denied them a chance to be managed by a demanding coach and possibly cost them a shot at the championship.
In a complaint filed late January with the U.S. Department of Education as well as the Chicago branch of the Office of Civil Rights, the students argued that male coaches are given more freedom to push their players emotionally and physically.
The students’ attorney said that he believes this may be the first case of its kind.
The world of college athletics appears poised for some big changes that could have significant implications for gender equity.
Unfair treatment
