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The US Ministry of Education has found that the University of Pennsylvania violated title IX by giving Trans Athlete Lia Thomas the opportunity to compete for the women’s swimming team, it announced on Monday.
A couple of former Upenn -Kvinde’s swimmers who reviewed the experience of sharing a pool and changing room with Thomas opened to what the recent statement from President Donald Trump’s administration means to them.
Conservative influencer Paula Scanlan, one of the first of Thomas’ teammates spoken against the school, told Pakinomist Digital that the news “excited” her, but she is also skeptical of its influence.
“I was excited to hear that the Department of Education is to crack down to the University of Pennsylvania. In the end, however, I am skeptical that my Alma Mater will take meaningful actions. They have had years to tackle this problem and apologize for the female athletes affected, but they have not chosen,” Scanlan said.
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University of Pennsylvania Swimmer Lia Thomas, Left, and Kentucky swimming Riley Gaines responds after completing tied to the 5th of the 200 Freestyle final in NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships on March 18, 2022 at McAuley Aquatic Center in Atlanta. (Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Fellow former Upenn Women’s swimmer Grace Estabrook told Pakinomist Digital that she hopes to take further and more serious actions.
“I am grateful for this administration for their leadership in these issues, and I hope soon to see accountability for everyone who stood by, while male athletes deprived us of female athletes for our opportunities and violated our rights in our dressing room.
“I am grateful that the federal government has found that Penn has violated section IX on title IX said.
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“Future Generations of Girls and Women Must Be Safeguarded Against The Hidous Emotional and Sexual Harasment That My Teammates and I Endured at Penn. The Current Policy Which Penn and The Ncaa Are Now Trying To Use to Cover Their Tracks And Put This Issue Behind Them Inte Inept, and It Continue Two Leave Women Vulnerable.
The Educational Department Office for Civil Rights said it will give the university 10 days to comply with paragraph IX or risk to a criminal reference to Ministry of Justice. Forming will include issuing a statement of its intention to follow section IX along with two other key actions.
“Restore to all female athletes all individual athletic items, titles, honors, awards or similar recognition for division in swimming competitions wrongly used by male athletes competing in female categories.
Pakinomist Digital reached out to the University of Pennsylvania for comment.
The university is currently being sued by Estabrook, and two of her other former teammates, Margot Kaczorowski and Ellen Holmquist, over the Thomas situation.
The lawsuit also names the Ivy League and NCAA, referring to their experience with Thomas and institutions’ handling of the situation. The case also seeks to have all Thomas’ recognition in the women’s category abolished.
