Trump admin responds after SJSU sues to challenge Title IX investigation into transgender volleyball scandal

U.S.Education Secretary Linda McMahon responded to San Jose State University (SJSU) and the California State University (CSU) system after the institutions sued the federal government to challenge the findings of a federalTitle IX investigation. 

SJSU and CSU announced their lawsuitFriday after the Department of Education determined SJSU violated Title IX in its handling of a transgender volleyball player from 2022-24. 

Now, McMahon is giving the institutions a deadline of 10 days to come to an agreement or risk federal funding cuts and a referral to the U.S.Department of Justice. 

followed the lawand cannot be punished for doing so.”

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‘HORRIBLE’ MOMENTS EXPOSED FOR UNR VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS WHEN THEY WERE ROPED INTO THE SJSU TITLE IX SCANDAL

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Teniente-Matson affirmed the university’s commitment to defending the LGBTQ community in the announcement.

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“Our support for the LGBTQ members of our community, who have experienced threats and harms over the last several years, remains unwavering.We know the attention the university has received around this issue and the investigative process that followed have been unsettling for many in our community,” she said.“We’ve heard the fear and anxiety that it has created and recognize that waiting for the university’s response has been difficult at a time already filled with uncertainty.” 

The university and its volleyball program was thrust into the national spotlight in 2024 after it was revealed the team rostered trans athlete Blaire Fleming since 2022.Former SJSU co-captainBrooke Slusser joined a lawsuitand led her own, alleging she was never told Fleming was a biological male when she joined the team and shared bedrooms and changing spaces with Fleming without that knowledge.

Among the department’s findings, it determined that a female athlete discovered that the trans student allegedly conspired to have a member of an opposing team spike her in the face during a match.The department claims “SJSU did not investigate the conspiracy, but later subjected the female athlete to a Title IX complaint for ‘misgendering’ the male athlete in online videos and interviews.”

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Brooke Slusser (10) and Blaire Fleming (3) of the San Jose State Spartans call a play during the first set against the Air Force Falcons at Falcon Court at East Gym Oct.19, 2024, in Colorado Springs, Colo.(Andrew Wevers/Getty Images)

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Slusser alleged in her November 2024 lawsuit against the Mountain West that she and former assistant coach Melissa Batie-Smoose were made aware of a meeting between Fleming and a Colorado State women’s volleyball player on Oct.2, 2024, during which Fleming discussed a plan with Jones to have Slusser spiked in the face during a match the following night.

 

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Jackson’s reporting has been cited in federal government actions related to the enforcement of Title IX, and in legacy media outlets including The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Associated Press and ESPN.com.