Madison College to add women's soccer

Madison College will add women’s soccer as a varsity sport in 2014 in an effort to balance its athletic offerings for men and women. The move came after an anonymous complaint filed with the U.S. Department of Education pointed to the school’s 63% to 37% ratio of male athletes to female athletes in its 2011-12 school year. The school is facing a federal investigation into alleged violations of Title IX, which requires equal opportunity for girls and women in education and any program receiving federal funding. Reportedly, Madison College officials were aware of the discrepancy and were working to rectify it and seeking funding. Its three-year athletic department plan includes adding 18 athletes to the soccer program and hiring a women’s soccer coach.