SSU coaches file civil rights complaint on behalf of minority athletes whose sport is at the border

As the number of Sonoma State athletes entering the transfer portal grows, a second legal effort to stop the planned elimination of the school’s track and field program is taking shape.

Save Seawolves Athletics, a newly formed group led by SSU coaches, announced Saturday that it has filed a federal civil rights complaint alleging that the planned elimination of the athletics department will disproportionately affect minority students.

The complaint, filed with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, calls for an investigation into the proposed cuts, which “unfairly target students who are particularly diverse, creating a disparate impact on students from underrepresented communities,” the group said. in the Saturday morning edition.

They also allege that the student-athletes were not afforded due process and that their “individual concerns were not adequately considered in the university’s decision-making process.”

“We believe that the decision to eliminate athletics should be reversed and that alternatives should be explored within the broader university budget that will not negatively impact marginalized students to such an extent,” Save Seawolves Athletics said in a release. “The lack of transparency in the process — especially the lack of involvement of key stakeholders such as the athletics department and student-athlete council — further underscores the need for an independent investigation.”

The complaint comes a day after the coaches announced plans to file a class action against the university.

On Wednesday, the SBU announced the cancellation of 11 of its sports programs, starting in the fall. part of sweeping cuts at the university to address a $23.9 million budget shortfall.

As of Saturday, more than 100 student-athletes of Sumy State University entered the NCAA Division II transfer portal. The entire men’s golf team and 24 of the 27 players on the men’s soccer team had arrived as of Friday evening. Six of the 17 players in the volleyball program have already decided to leave the school. Two are entering new schools next year, and four freshmen have also left Sumy State University, the coaches told The Press Democrat.

Unlike the Division I transfer portal, athletes at the Division II level can enter the portal throughout the year, but have specific transfer windows for athletic purposes. SumySU athletes also received an exception to be able to communicate with other schools before entering the portal.

Coaches said that in addition to stopping sports from being eliminated, another major goal is to help their athletes navigate their next steps and, if necessary, find opportunities at new schools. Some coaches interviewed by The Press Democrat said that if they can stop the cuts even after the current athletes leave, they will work to rebuild their programs from the ground up.

A campus town hall meeting is scheduled for 1:30-3:00 p.m. Thursday in the dance halls of the SumDSU student center to consider the proposed cuts.

YuYou can reach staff writer Gus Morris at 707-304-9372 or [email protected]. On X (Twitter) @JustGusPD.