The U.S. Department of Education is looking into San Jose State University (SJSU) for potential Title IX violations related to how it treats female athletes, particularly concerning a transgender woman on the volleyball team. This investigation follows President Trump’s recent executive order, which restricts transgender women from competing in girls’ and women’s sports.
On the same day, the NCAA updated its rules for transgender athletes, stating that only those assigned female at birth can participate in women’s sports. NCAA President Charlie Baker emphasized the need for clear eligibility standards to protect student-athletes from conflicting state laws.
SJSU is one of two universities being investigated for possible violations, along with Penn. Last season, the university found itself in the spotlight regarding its transgender athlete policy. When asked about the situation, officials did not confirm the presence of a transgender player on the volleyball team since that athlete had not publicly come out. They did, however, claim compliance with NCAA standards.
SJSU President Cynthia Teniente-Matson expressed her commitment to treating all students fairly and upholding their rights under the law. She also recognized that the intersection of laws and policies can be complex.
The university came under national scrutiny when Brooke Slusser, a co-captain of the women’s volleyball team, joined a lawsuit against the NCAA. Slusser alleged that allowing transgender women to compete in women’s sports discriminated against female athletes. She claimed that her transgender teammate had physical advantages and received a scholarship over other competitors. Slusser also mentioned she was unaware of her teammate’s status during team travel.
Meanwhile, former assistant volleyball coach Melissa Batie-Smoose left the program after alleging that SJSU favored the transgender athlete. She faced indefinite suspension after filing a Title IX complaint. The school did not provide details about her departure but claimed it retaliated against those defending female athletes.
During this controversy, several teams forfeited matches against SJSU, which reached the Mountain West Conference finals before losing to Colorado State.
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