The University of Delaware administration has agreed to mediation in the men's track and field team's complaint to the Office of Civil Rights that UD committed reverse discrimination in dropping men's track and cross country.
The teams are being eliminated, effective at the end of this school year, for financial and Title IX gender-equity reasons, UD announced in January.
"It's definitely a step in the right direction," said senior team member Corey Wall. "For three months the university has completely shut us out. They'd stated point-blank that the decision was final."
Team members have said reinstatement of the programs is the only acceptable conclusion.
An OCR attorney met with present and former team members Tuesday night on campus.
"It just amazes me we're at this point because this is all we've ever wanted," said Tom Rogers, a 1989 UD graduate and former team member, who, like many, had been frustrated by the reluctance of UD officials to discuss the matter.
The purpose of mediation is to possibly come up with what the OCR terms "Early Complaint Resolution." If that does not occur, the OCR will investigate the complaint and issue a ruling.
Discussions between UD representatives and team supporters could begin within two weeks, said Ron Poliquin, the Dover attorney hired by the track group to represent it.
Poliquin said both sides signed a confidentiality agreement preventing them from discussing details. However, he would say the mere fact the parties were meeting was "a hopeful sign" for the displaced student-athletes.
"The mediation process is the only time that both parties control their own fate," Poliquin said. "If it goes to an OCR investigation, the decision is left to them. Both parties want to get this on the fast track to get it resolved."
