In 2010, Quinnipiac University sought to replace its women's volleyball program with "competitive cheer." Cheerleading was not recognized as a sport by the NCAA or the federal Department of Education. Represented by the ACLU-CT in a class action lawsuit, members of the women's volleyball team and their coach sued to block Quinnipiac from eliminating its women's volleyball program. Quinnipiac, the plaintiffs argued, was discriminating on the basis of sex in operation of its varsity athletic program, in violation of Title IX, a federal law requiring gender equality in education. Ultimately, the federal courts agreed. Under a consent decree settlement, Quinnipiac was required to retain all of its existing women's teams (including volleyball), to allocate more scholarships to women athlethes, and to improve the benefits provided to most of its women's teams.
Biediger, et al. v. Quinnipiac University
Attorney(s)
David McGuire (ACLU-CT), Dan Barrett (ACLU-CT)
Pro Bono Law Firm(s)
Jonathan B. Orleans and Alex V. Hernandez, Pullman & Comley
Date filed
April 16, 2009
Court
U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut
Judge
Stefan R. Underhill
Status
Victory!
Case number
3:09-cv-00621-SRU
Related Issues
Documents
- pdfQuinnipiac University Title IX Consent Decree Agreement
- pdfQuinnipiac University Title IX Court Decision
- pdfQuinnipiac University Title IX Pre-Trial Memos
- pdfQuinnipiac University Title IX Class Action Complaint
- pdfQuinnipiac University Title IX Letter to QU
- pdfBIEDIGER QU Notice to the Class June 2020.pdf
Related content

ACLU of Connecticut Strategic Plan 2025-2028
January 31, 2025
Civil Liberties Update: End of Year Newsletter 2024
December 6, 2024Firewalls for Freedom
November 8, 2024
Civil Liberties Update: End of Year Newsletter 2023
October 27, 2023SB 1133, An Act Limiting a Finding of Neglect or Risk of Injury to...
April 5, 2023SR 42, A Resolution Proposing a State Constitutional Amendment...
April 5, 2023