Iowa athletic director under investigation for discrimination

The University of Iowa and athletic director Gary Barta are under investigation for violation of federal Title IX laws.

The complaint against the University of Iowa was filed by current women’s field hockey players Chandler Ackers, Jessy Silfer, Natalie Cafone, and former player Dani Haemon.

The report was filed after Tracey Griesbaum, the now former field hockey coach, was fired for being too hard on players. The University claims that they were just in their firing of Griesbaum because a small number of players came forward and complained about the coaching methods. The athletes who filed the complaint aren’t buying it.

Former coach Tracey Griesbaum with the Iowa Field Hockey Team | Photo credit: hawkeyesports.com

The women feel that the firing of Griesbaum and this sex discrimination not only hurts female coaches, but also female athletes. The athletes argue that holding female coaches to a different standard than male coaches does not allow athletes such as themselves to be pushed to their full potential.

• The complaint filed can be boiled down to five assertions about the university and the athletic department:
• The school treats complaints by females differently than complaints by males
• Female coaches are investigated differently than male coaches
• Female coaches are investigated using different methods than male coaches
• Female coaches are not allowed to use certain coaching methods that male coaches are allowed to use
• The school and athletic department “generally holds female coaches to a higher or different standard than male coaches.”

This case is a major step not only for female athletes and coaches at the University of Iowa, but all all collegiate institutions. When asked in an ESPNW article why they decided to challenge the school, Ackers said: “Because the issue is larger than just us”.

The case has garnered national attention and for good reason. This case is already making waves in athletic departments across the nation. Regardless of the results of the investigation, the complaint has brought attention to a problem that is evident in many universities.