In November 2020, San Diego State announced it would be cutting its women’s rowing team, citing financial difficulties brought along by the COVID-19 pandemic along with gender equity compliance.
Now, many athletes affected by this decision are striking back with a class action federal lawsuit.
On Feb. 7, seventeen current and former athletes at SDSU filed a federal class action lawsuit against the university claiming SDSU violated Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 by depriving women of equal federal financial aid. Eleven of the 17 plaintiffs were former members of the rowing team while six are current members of the track and field team.