Let’s take a trip back to December 2023, when over 32 determined female student-athletes from the University of Oregon made headlines by filing a Title IX lawsuit in federal court. They claimed the Oregon Beach Volleyball program was out of step with the law that protects against s*x discrimination in education. The lawsuit points out the university fails to meet any of the three “prongs” that determine Title IX compliance: proportional participation based on enrollment, expanding opportunities and accommodating the existing interest of female athletes.

Specifically, the athletes allege Oregon Beach Volleyball’s department is falling short, depriving women of equal treatment, benefits, athletic aid, and opportunities to compete at the varsity level. The lawsuit, backed by Bailey Glasser LLP and the expertise of Title IX attorney Arthur Bryant, sparked a major conversation about the treatment of women in collegiate sports. And now, brace yourselves, because a shocking update emerged of this ongoing case.

As per a report by USA Today, the ongoing Title IX complaint against the University of Oregon took a dramatic turn this week, with new filings revealing even more troubling details. Initially filed in December 2023, the lawsuit accuses the university of not complying with federal law regarding gender equality in sports. Among the shocking new allegations, a senior Oregon Athletics administrator allegedly threatened to cancel the 2021 beach volleyball season if the players kept raising concerns about their treatment.

This came after an investigative report by The Oregonian/Oregonlive.com uncovered significant disparities between beach volleyball and other sports, including the team’s lack of a proper facility. The Oregon Beach volleyball’s team, which had to practice at a public park, faced numerous challenges. The park’s restrooms were often locked due to community dr*g issues, leaving athletes without basic access to facilities. These conditions led to multiple objections from the team.

In her declaration, Ashley Schroeder revealed taking their concerns to Senior Women’s Administrator Lisa Peterson and their coaches. “Made complaints to the Senior Women’s Administrator, Lisa Peterson, and to our coaches about the lack of a decent playing facility, the lack of athletic financial aid, and the conditions we were made to play in, among other things,” Schroeder said. Despite their efforts to address these issues, Schroeder claimed Peterson downplayed their complaints, attributing the lack of support to the unique challenges of the COVID season.

Peterson allegedly told the team “all the benefits that we had been promised were put on hold until the pandemic was over.” Moreover, she dismissed their concerns about being denied basic support, gear, and financial aid. “She told us that we were lucky to be playing and that if we continued to complain, the season would be cancelled,” Schroeder said, adding that the threat was taken seriously by her and her teammates.

So how did it all unfold to this point?

Oregon Beach Volleyball drama from the top!

The University of Oregon, a powerhouse in college sports backed by Nike co-founder Phil Knight, is renowned for its top-tier women’s teams, including volleyball, track and field, and softball. But despite boasting world-class facilities and big budgets, a dark side has surfaced within the Oregon Beach Volleyball’s department.

A Title IX lawsuit filed by 26 beach volleyball players and six rowing team members saw the spotlight on disturbing instances of gender-based discrimination. Stunned by the findings, lead counsel Arthur Bryant, called the situation “blatant” and criticized the university for dismissing the athletes’ complaints.

Bryant, who has long championed gender equality in sports, expressed shock at how the University of Oregon treated its women athletes, especially given its reputation for excellence. “The University of Oregon is one of the top schools in the country in terms of intercollegiate athletics and money,” he said.

“They have this reputation for being truly outstanding — and I always believed the reputation. So I was stunned when I read the article, and I was even more stunned when the university’s lawyers were utterly dismissive of the athletes’ complaints.” The university’s dismissal of the facts and refusal to act only made it clear that filing a lawsuit was the only way forward for these athletes.

Ashley Schroeder, lead plaintiff, painted a heartbreaking picture of the neglect her team endured. In her statement last year, she emphasized the glaring contrast between the treatment of women’s and men’s teams. “Female athletes at Oregon do not need much food or water, good or clean clothes or uniforms, scholarships, medical treatment or mental health services, their own facilities, a locker room, proper transportation, or other basic necessities,” Schroeder explained.

Tragically, the team couldn’t even practice that week due to a nearby death at their public park courts. Meanwhile, the men’s teams were equipped with full scholarships, elite facilities, and multi-million-dollar budgets. So how long can such disparities continue without change?