Commenting on the recently-filed complaint against Central Washington University alleging multiple Title IX violations, Ellensburg City Councilmember Adam Winn said, “The language of Title IX seems clear to me. There should be no discrimination on the basis of sex.”
The complaint, filed June 6, 2022, says CWU’s female-only scholarships constitute illegal discrimination. Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 prohibits institutions that receive federal financial assistance from discriminating against a person on the basis of sex.
Mark Perry submitted the complaint to the Seattle branch of the Office for Civil Rights, under the U.S. Department of Education. Mr. Perry’s complaints about Title IX violations at colleges and universities across the country have resulted in more than 100 resolutions in his favor.
See our related piece: Bellevue College under civil rights investigation for its sex-specific scholarships
‘Either ignorant or acting above the law’
Located in Ellensburg, Central Washington University has 10,000 students, 54% of whom are female (Source: cwu.edu). The university offers six men’s varsity sports and seven women’s varsity sports.
Commenting on his complaint, Mr. Perry said: “Even 50 years after Congress passed Title IX to protect all persons from illegal sex discrimination, there are still universities like Central Washington that are either unaware they are violating federal civil rights law or they are unconcerned they are violating it, with an assumption, I guess, that nobody will challenge them. They are either ignorant of what Title IX requires or they think they are above the law. It is troubling either way.”
CWU considers sexual discrimination in all its forms to be a serious offense.
Title IX Compliance, Central Washington University
Washington Initiative for Boys and Men is grateful for Councilmember Adam Winn‘s expression of support for equal treatment and equal opportunities for all students at Central Washington University. We appreciate when elected officials’ commitments to equality and non-discrimination include defending the civil rights of boys and men.
While it is likely the U.S. Department of Education will open a civil rights investigation into Central Washington University, it may be several months to a year before that occurs. The complaint is docked as Case No. 10-22-2143.
