Hanover College Faces Title IX Lawsuit Over Women’s Swim Cut
Four Hanover College women’s swimmers have sued the school for violating Title IX after the college eliminated its women’s and men’s swimming programs in March, citing a shortfall of 170 female-athlete opportunities and a 15% deficit in meeting equity requirements.
Four members of Hanover College’s women’s swimming team filed a sex-discrimination lawsuit against the school, alleging a breach of Title IX after the college announced it was cutting both its women’s and men’s swimming programs in March.
The plaintiffs - Lucy Schoenlein, Tallulah Frazier, Shelby Geraghty and Anna Williams - claim that Hanover now offers approximately 170 fewer opportunities for female athletes than required by law. They also point to the most recent Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act (EADA) data, which shows the college is 15% under the requirement for female-athlete opportunities.
Lawsuit Details
The lawsuit was filed by the four swimmers in the Oakland, California office of Arthur Bryant Law, P.C., the firm representing the athletes. Lead counsel Arthur Bryant said the college was notified of the alleged violation via an email to President Lake Lambert. The suit seeks to compel Hanover to restore the women’s swimming team and to add the missing opportunities to achieve gender equity.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Women’s share of undergraduates (2024-25) | 50.34% |
| Women’s share of varsity-sport opportunities | 34.86% |
| Additional opportunities needed | 170 |
| EADA deficit | 15% |
Title IX Requirements
Title IX mandates that schools provide equal opportunities for men and women to participate in varsity sports. The plaintiffs argue that Hanover’s elimination of the women’s swimming team violates this requirement, especially given that women already make up half of the student body.
Plaintiff Statements
Lucy Schoenlein, the team captain, said, “Hanover College has been depriving women of equal opportunities for decades - and now it’s eliminated the women’s swimming team. So, we’re going to fight for our team, our teammates, and all of the women at Hanover. This sex discrimination has to stop.”
The athletes also noted that the team’s squad was abruptly dissolved, leaving members without a program to train or compete in.
Legal Counsel Comments
Arthur Bryant emphasized that the college must add around 170 opportunities for women to reach gender equity. He added, “Hanover needs to add around 170 opportunities for women to reach gender equity. It should not be eliminating any women’s teams.”
The lawsuit is currently pending, and the college has not yet responded publicly. The case highlights the ongoing challenges faced by women’s collegiate sports programs when institutions face budgetary pressures.
For further updates on the team’s status, athletes can check the program’s stats and see how the cuts have affected overall participation. The broader impact on the college’s athletic standing remains to be seen.
