Group files complaints about civil rights for reducing Sonoma athletics

Save the Atletics Seawolves, an organization formed in response to the proposed elimination of all athletics programs at Sonoma State University, has filed an official complaint against civil rights to the Ministry of Education of the US Ministry of Education against Civil Rights opposed to closing.

According to the press release of the organization Posted this weekend on Facebook“The complaint requires an investigation into the disproportionate impact of a recent university’s decision to reduce athletic programs, emphasizing how these reductions affect students, especially minorities.”

The Grassroot group states that the SSU decision to reduce the entire athletic program of the University “has been unfairly aimed at the student body, which is noticeably diverse, which creates a different impact on students from the underdeveloped communities.”

The complaint follows from Sonoma State University’s decisionIt was announced on January 22 to make mass reductions in costs, trying to promote a budget deficit that has increased to almost $ 24 million.

As part of these abbreviations, The institution plans to finish more than 20 degrees, stop dozens of teachers, close or consolidate several academic departments, and eliminate all 11 of its athletics at the end of the current semester.

Provisional President of State University Sonoma Emily F. Cater has explained the shortage of “various factors – the cost of staff, the annual increase in supply prices and utilities, inflation – but the main reason is enrollment.” Sonoma, one of 23 campuses in the California State University system, watched that its enrollment decreased by 38% since its high level in 2015.

The new group claims that students of the athletes were denied the proper process and that “their individual challenges were not taken into account in the decision-making process of the university.”

“We believe that the decision to eliminate athletics should be reversible and that alternatives should be studied within the wider budget of the university that do not adversely affect the marginalized students to such an extent,” said Save Seawolves press. “The lack of transparency in this process – in particular, failure to comply with key stakeholders, such as the Athletics Department and Student Athletes Council, apparently emphasizing the need for an independent investigation.”

The group also states that athletics has the potential to increase income for the university, but the potential for this “has not been fully studied or taken into account in the decision -making process.”

Students, trainers and graduates associated with SSA athletics take other steps to prevent the university with abbreviations, including a claim for class Ksro, Local radio station.

SSU officials said They looked at the complaint. At the beginning of this week, declaring the budget reduction, Cater said one of us to feel better. ”

However, she added that changes are necessary to close the shortage and reorientation of operations and workforce of the university, adding that they will help the institution to ensure long -term fiscal stability; “To meet the changing needs of future generations of students; Align with a mission focused on the career of CSU, make graduates ready to contribute to the economy, culture and school of California ”and continue to advance in the region.