James Madison University and Title IX: Myths vs. Facts
By National Women's Law Center

James Madison University announced plans in late September to cut 10 athletic teams, explaining these cuts as being necessary for Title IX compliance. This is the Save Title IX Coalition's response.

Myth: Title IX forced JMU to cut its athletics teams.
Fact: Title IX does not require JMU to cut any teams, and JMU itself acknowledges that other factors were at work.

The Department of Education has reiterated that "nothing in Title IX requires the cutting or reduction of teams in order to demonstrate compliance." Office for Civil Rights, United States Department of Education,
Further Clarification of Intercollegiate Athletics Policy Guidance Regarding Title IX Compliance, July 2003. Every court that has looked at the question has agreed that Title IX does not require cuts to teams, pointing out that schools decide which teams to sponsor based on a variety of factors.

JMU has admitted that it cut teams for reasons unrelated to Title IX, including: It wants a group of strong teams within five years in the Colonial Athletic Association, and some of the cut teams compete in less prominent conferences. Some of the cut teams were more expensive for the school because they didn't have conference memberships and had to travel farther to compete. JMU's cuts to women's teams are clearly unrelated to Title IX.

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