Marshall University has reversed its decision to eliminate the women's swimming and diving programme, following a lawsuit filed by athletes and concerns over Title IX compliance. The university's Board of Governors announced the reversal after a special meeting on Wednesday.
President Brad Smith acknowledged the difficulty of the decision, stating that leadership requires humility to listen and adjust course when new information emerges. The reversal comes after a group of swimmers filed a lawsuit to retain the sport, highlighting an independent audit that showed Marshall has struggled to meet Title IX requirements for athletic participation opportunities for women.
Last month, Marshall had announced plans to drop swimming and add stunt, a cheerleading-based sport, to its women's sports offerings. Athletic director Gerald Harrison had cited the swim team's $819,000 annual budget and inadequate facilities as reasons for the cut. However, President Smith noted that eliminating women's swimming could have placed the university outside Title IX's safe harbour framework, and the potential costs of a lengthy lawsuit also influenced the decision.
Marshall will continue with plans to add stunt as a varsity sport. The reversal was praised by swim coach Ian Walsh, who expressed pride in his athletes for their resilience during the past month.
