Nearly 11 months after Eastern Michigan University announced it would eliminate women's tennis and softball, a federal judge has ordered them to reinstate those programs. 89.1 WEMU's Jorge Avellan has the details.
A Title IX lawsuit is forcing EMU to have the teams up and running by the fall of 2019. Attorney Lori Bullock represents the two female student-athletes who filed the lawsuit. She says this victory is part of a larger case that also accuses Eastern of giving more athletic opportunities to male students.
"Because they are given more opportunities, they're given more scholarships. They have disproportionately more scholarships," said Bullock.
As part of the ruling, a softball coach must be hired by April 1st. Meanwhile, a tennis coach has already been hired. In a statement, Eastern said they will be studying the ruling and determining next steps in the days ahead.Non-commercial, fact based reporting is made possible by your financial support. Make your donation to WEMU todayto keep your community NPR station thriving.
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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
