Title IX case settled

A recent class action lawsuit settlement between the University of California at Davis and the three female athletes who sued the university for a Title IX violation may raise the standards set by judges for Title IX compliance in courts around the U.S., the New York Times reports. Judges have generally agreed that universities are in compliance with Title IX if their athlete gender ratio is within five percent of the gender ratio of their general student body. But in the settlement announced in June that awaits approval by federal court, UC Davis has 10 years to equalize female athlete participation to within 1.5 percent of the overall student population. This standard represents a significant break from judicial precedent that may have a dynamic affect on judges' views of Title IX around the nation and, in turn, on the opportunities available for female college athletes. AAUW supported this case with an amicus brief to the court.