In an effort to comply with Title IX requirements, Eastern Michigan University's athletics departmenthosted two meetings Tuesday afternoon to gauge interest in women's sports. 89.1 WEMU's Jorge Avellan has the story.
One student attended the women's tennis meeting while 20 took part in a different meeting for softball. The university is not hosting these meetings by choice. A federal judge ordered them to comply with Title IX requirements after Eastern eliminated four sports teams in March to save $2.4 million. That included tennis and softball.
Geoff Larcom is a spokesperson for the university.
"Some athletes would've gone to other schools, competed in other sports. Others, their life situations may have evolved so we're obviously not at the same point that we were before," said Larcom.
Lori Bullock is the attorney representing the two female athletes who filed a lawsuit against Eastern.
"Tennis right now, they have posted a coach position and what we are hoping is that they will be able to bring back tennis this year," said Bullock.
A status conference has been scheduled with a federal judge next week to provide an update on where both parties stand.
The meetings were closed to members of the media.
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— Jorge Avellan is a reporter for 89.1 WEMU News. Contact him at 734.487.3363 or email him javellan@emich.edu
