UI athletics faces gender bias inquiry

Federal officials will look into firing of female coach

By Scott Dochterman, The Gazette

IOWA CITY — Federal officials will investigate the University of Iowa for allegations it did not review gender bias as a motive when athletics director Gary Barta fired women's field hockey coach Tracey Griesbaum last summer.

In a May 22 letter sent to UI President Sally Mason, the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights wrote it will review a sexual discrimination complaint made by four female athletes last October. The students, all of whom play field hockey, assert the university dismissed discrimination claims leveled toward Barta without an investigation.

After a six-month UI internal evaluation, Barta dismissed Griesbaum on Aug. 4. Several players told investigators they were verbally abused by Griesbaum and pressured to play injured. Although the UI Department of Human Resources and the Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity found no violations, investigators described a 'team environment of fear, intimidation, and/or mistreatment by Coach Griesbaum.'

Griesbaum, who coached Iowa for 14 seasons, received $200,000 per her contract for termination without cause.

Field hockey players Jessy Silfer, Chandler Ackers, Natalie Cafone and Dani Hemeon assert their Title IX rights were violated because UI investigates gender complaints differently and female coaches are held to a higher standard. The athletes filed their complaint with the federal agency on Jan. 2 with help from Griesbaum's attorney, Tom Newkirk. Hemeon was a senior last year, while Cafone and Ackers are listed as current players on the team's website. Silfer, who was a sophomore last year, is not listed on the team's roster.

According to the complaint, the civil rights office 'intends to conduct a prompt investigation' but notes the probe 'in no way implies' it has made any determination.

The UI is required to provide the agency with, among other things, copies of its investigation and notes and copies of all sex discrimination complaints filed with the UI for the last three school years.

The federal agency oversees Title IX, a law that requires gender equity in federally funded educational programs.

In a statement, the university wrote it will cooperate with the investigation. University officials maintain Griesbaum's firing was not related to gender. Her longtime assistant, Lisa Cellucci, was later hired as head coach.

Attempts to reach Barta Wednesday were unsuccessful.

l Comments: (319) 339-3169; scott.dochterman@thegazette.com