NEWS RELEASE **** NEWS RELEASE **** NEWS RELEASE
For immediate release: Tuesday, July 24, 2007
For More Information:
Noreen Farrell, Equal Rights Advocates
(415) 621-0672, ext. 398
Monique Olivier, The Sturdevant Law Firm
(415) 477-2410
CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT DEMANDS EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN AT UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS
California Suit Brought on Behalf of Women Athletes Seeks Equal Treatment for Women Students in Athletics
SACRAMENTO, CA – On Tuesday July 24, 2007, three University of California Davis (UC Davis) women students filed a class-action lawsuit against the university in federal court, accusing UC Davis of systemic discrimination based on gender by failing to provide equal athletic opportunities and athletic scholarships for women students.
The lawsuit, filed by women student athletes Kelsey Brust, Jessica Bulala, and Laura Ludwig, alleges that UC Davis is violating Title IX, the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution and state civil rights laws by failing to provide women athletics opportunities and scholarships at UC Davis that are equal to those provided to male students relative to the respective enrollments of each sex, despite interest in sports like women’s field hockey, wrestling, and rugby. “Popular and competitive women’s sports club teams for field hockey and rugby exist at UC Davis, but the women student athletes must pay to participate and receive coaching in club sports, and get none of the benefits of varsity status,” explained Noreen Farrell, an attorney with Equal Rights Advocates and one of the lead attorneys on the case. Also, women wrestled at the varsity level at UC Davis until 2001 when their varsity status was withdrawn. The elimination of women’s wrestling is already the subject of a civil rights lawsuit against UC Davis which is presently pending in federal court in Sacramento.
“This case is really important for the future generations of women field hockey players and other athletes who should be entitled to receive the same varsity benefits that male athletes receive,” said Jessica Bulala, one of the plaintiffs in the action. The women allege that discrimination against female athletes is far reaching, as UC Davis has a long history of providing more opportunities for intercollegiate athletic participation to men than to women, relative to the respective enrollment of each sex. The lawsuit alleges that UC Davis has added only one women’s team – golf – since 1996, and that was after the filing of the suit involving women wrestlers and a separate suit by the wrestling coach, Michael Burch, who alleged he was terminated in retaliation for advocating for the women wrestlers. According to Monique Olivier of The Sturdevant Law Firm, which represents the plaintiffs in the case, UC Davis’ practice is particularly egregious because it has ignored the interest and skill of their women athletes, even as women comprise an ever-greater percentage of students attending colleges and universities. “Title IX guarantees that women should have equal opportunities in college athletics, but UC Davis’ practices fly in the face of the law,” Olivier said.
“Women and girls are legally entitled to the myriad of benefits that come from playing sports – and to receive comparable economic benefits from scholarship and professional opportunities to those enjoyed by male athletes,” added Noreen Farrell. The women bring this case on behalf of all present and future women student athletes at UC Davis and demands that UC Davis comply with federal and state laws by providing equal opportunities in athletics and athletic scholarships to women student athletes. The suit was filed just as an investigation by the California Legislature has been launched into Title IX compliance throughout California state universities. Hearings before the Senate Select Committee on Gender Discrimination and Title IX Implementation commenced this morning, July 24, 2007, at 10:00 a.m. at the State Capital.
For a copy of the complaint or more information, please contact Noreen Farrell at Equal Rights Advocates ((415) 621-0672, ext. 398) or Monique Olivier at The Sturdevant Law Firm ((415) 477-2410).
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