Trump Education Dept: San Jose State Violated Title IX in Trans Volleyball Case

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights has formally found that San Jose State University violated Title IX in how it handled a transgender volleyball player and the complaints of female teammates, and has given the school 10 days to comply with a corrective agreement or face "imminent enforcement action." OCR concluded SJSU denied women equal athletic opportunities by allowing a male athlete to compete on the women’s volleyball team, affecting competition, safety, scholarships and playing time, and then retaliated against female athletes who objected, including by subjecting one complainant to a Title IX case for allegedly "misgendering" the trans player while not probing a reported plan to spike her in the face. The finding stems from a 2024 season in which seven teams forfeited matches against SJSU and from lawsuits by former co‑captain Brooke Slusser and ex‑assistant coach Melissa Batie‑Smoose, who say they were forced to share intimate spaces with the trans athlete and punished after raising concerns. Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kimberly Richey called the university’s conduct "unacceptable" and said ED "will not relent" until SJSU is held to account and commits to upholding Title IX protections for female athletes. The determination escalates a high‑profile clash over transgender participation in women’s college sports into a concrete federal enforcement action that could guide future disputes across the NCAA.