Slippery Rock pledges more improvements to female sports

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. (AP) — Slippery Rock University has agreed to additional improvements after a judge reopened a discrimination suit alleging the state-owned school didn’t comply with a federal law requiring equal opportunities for female athletes.

Female athletes sued in 2006 after the school voted to cut eight sports — including women’s field hockey, water polo and swimming. Slippery Rock settled the suit in 2007 by reinstating field hockey and adding women’s lacrosse, but the athletes later asked a federal judge in Pittsburgh to reopen the suit because of alleged disparities in women’s facilities.

Under Monday’s agreement, the school will improve its softball, field hockey and lacrosse facilities, restore water polo scholarships, open a women’s weight room, and train its staff about federal discrimination laws.