Title IX at UC Davis

We'll be chiming in with our report on the latest UC Davis Title IX lawsuit when the paper hits the street this afternoon.

It's the third lawsuit in six years, if you're keeping count. That seems like an awfully high number for a campus that often mentions its commitment to gender equity almost every chance it gets. I tend to think UCD is an inviting target for suits because it has expressed, in writing, a commitment to reach proportionality without cutting sports. Both the plaintiffs' attorney and a university spokesperson disagreed when I broached this theory on Wednesday, but I'd be curious to hear what other people have to say.

Don't be surprised if you hear a lot about Title IX in the coming months. Its advocates appear ready to push back against the losses they feel have been inflicted upon them by the Bush Administration. The biggest defeat was when, in 2005, the Department of Education allowed institutions to use e-mail surveys to measure interest. In the age of spam, those supporters argued, that's a lousy way to measure interest.

As currently constituted, the plaintiffs in this latest case at UCD are seeking fairly modest damages. Their lawyer says they are more interested in compelling the university to make a plan to reach proportionality. That's good news for the campus, given the price tags we're starting to see attached to the litigation. Last month a former Fresno State volleyball coach won a $5.85M verdict against school related to her firing. And earlier in the year former UCD wrestling coach Michael Burch settled his case, which alleged retaliation for the coach's outspoken support for four women cut from the wrestling team, for $725,000.

So, stay tuned.