This news release describes past events and should be used for historical purposes only. Please note date of release.
UW-Eau Claire News Bureau
Schofield Hall 218
Eau Claire, WI 54702-4004
UW-Eau Claire Notified
Of OCR Complaint
phone (715) 836-4741
fax (715) 836-2900
web http://www.uwec.edu
e-mail newsbur@uwec.edu

MAILED: April 30, 1999

EAU CLAIRE — The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire has received an administrative complaint from the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, regarding a request to add women's ice hockey as a varsity sport.
Earlier this year UW-Eau Claire's Athletic Committee recommended that women's ice hockey be added, but that no other sport would be dropped to provide the necessary resources. The request to elevate the team to the intercollegiate level without eliminating any other sport was denied by the university's administration, based on the fact that the UW System budget for the next biennium is not known so additional monies could not be committed at that time to fund women's ice hockey or any other sport.
"We have received an administrative complaint from the Office of Civil Rights concerning women's ice hockey and are in the process of responding to it," Carole Halberg, special assistant to the chancellor, said.
UW-Eau Claire currently offers 10 men's varsity sports including basketball, cross-country, football, golf, hockey, swimming and diving, tennis, indoor track and field, outdoor track and field, and wrestling. There are 11 women's varsity sports, including basketball, cross-country, golf, gymnastics, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, indoor track and field, outdoor track and field, and volleyball. These teams compete in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
The women's athletic program has expanded during the past 10 years, with women's soccer added in 1989-90 and women's golf in 1995-96.
Additional information about men's and women's intercollegiate athletics at UW-Eau Claire is available on the university's web site, www.uwec.edu, under Student Life.

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JB/JW


UWEC [Administrative Offices] [News Bureau]

Janice B. Wisner
UW-Eau Claire News Bureau
Schofield 218
(715) 836-4741
newsbur@uwec.edu

Updated: April 30, 1999