WASHINGTON — The American Association University Women (AAUW) Legal Advocacy Fund applauds a judge’s decision to send a former UC-Davis head wrestling coach’s case to trial. Michael Burch, who filed for Title IX violations, alleges UC-Davis barred female participation in the wrestling program and terminated his contract after he showed support for the female wrestlers in 2001. The Burch case is supported by the AAUW Legal Advocacy Fund.
In June, after more than two years of legal wrangling, U.S. District Judge William B. Shubb denied the university’s motion for summary judgment and found sufficient evidence to send the case to a jury. Trial in the case of Burch, et al. v. Regents of the University of California, et al. is set for October 2006 in a federal district court in Sacramento.
In 2003, Burch sued the Regents of the University of California and four university administrators for retaliation in violation of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the law that prohibits sex discrimination in education, and other federal laws. The women wrestlers filed a separate Title IX suit against the university. Since 2001, no women have participated in varsity wrestling at UC-Davis, despite the fact that two former UC-Davis female wrestlers won world championship medals.
“This case is about protecting those who speak out when others’ rights are violated,” said Lisa Maatz, interim director of the AAUW Legal Advocacy Fund. “By offering our support to Michael Burch, AAUW is encouraging men and women to stand up in defense of those harmed by sex discrimination.”
Burch alleges that in fall 2000 the athletic director and an associate athletic director informed him that the university would no longer offer UC-Davis wrestling team participation to female students, citing concerns about insurance and liability. Burch assisted the female wrestlers in meeting with school officials to have the decision rescinded. He also spoke out on their behalf when they filed a Title IX complaint with the U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights. The university declined to renew both his wrestling coach and lecturer contracts for the 2001-2002 academic year, despite Burch’s excellent record.
During his six-year tenure as head wrestling coach, Burch was twice named UC-Davis “Coach of the Year,” led his team to more dual meet victories than any other previous wrestling coach at the university, and qualified numerous wrestlers to both the PAC-10 Conference and NCAA wrestling championships. Burch was committed to providing wrestling opportunities to both male and female students. Burch is now the assistant wrestling coach at Brown University.
“Michael Burch has been courageous in his support of the women wrestlers, and has been committed to seeking simple justice for everyone involved,” said Maatz. “The least we can do is protect brave advocates like Burch when they work to make sure the playing field is level for everyone.”
Read the full case summary of Burch, et al. v. Regents of the University of California, et al.
Read the full case summary of the women wrestlers’ case, Mansourian, et al. v. Regents of the University of California, et al.
Read about Title IX and Athletics.
Interviews are available with AAUW Legal Advocacy Fund Interim Director Lisa Maatz on this and other cases.
To schedule an interview, contact: Rebecca Leaf, Sr. Media Relations Associate at (202) 785-7738, leafr@aauw.org or Ashley Carr, Director of Communications at (202) 785-7745, carra@aauw.org.
