Adrian College in Michigan has settled a 2007 complaint filed with the Office for Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Education. The complaint alleged that women athletes were not afforded the same opportunities as male athletes. One instance involved the construction of a new baseball facility while no effort was made to improve the college’s softball facilities. After an investigation, the Education Department concluded that “women made up 49.7 percent of the student body, but were provided only 28.9 percent of the athletic opportunities.”
Under the settlement, Adrian College must add one or more women’s sports in the 2012-13 academic year if there is sufficient interest among women students on campus. The college is conducting a survey to determine if women are interested in adding an additional sport. The college also agreed to upgrade the school’s softball facilities and to restore gender equality in all areas of its athletics programs.
Adrian College released a statement which stated it has always “maintained the highest commitment to equality and respect for gender equity.” The college said that many of the problems identified in the complaint have been resolved in the four years since it was originally filed and that the college was working to resolve any remaining issues.