Florida Tech men's rowing may remain varsity sport until at least 2028, per settlement
In a tentative legal settlement, the Florida Institute of Technology has guaranteed to support men’s rowing and men's cross country as varsity sports for at least the next five academic years, through 2027-28.
Florida Tech officials abruptly terminated five fall varsity sports programs — men's and women's rowing, men's golf, and men's and women's cross country/distance track — in June 2022 and demoted them to club sports, which receive fewer resources and funding.
But the Friends of FIT Rowing Association alumni group fought back. The organization filed a Title IX federal lawsuit led by Arthur Schofield, a West Palm Beach labor and employment attorney and Florida Tech alumnus who rowed from 1986-90. Cross-country runners joined the lawsuit this spring, saying they were also unfairly discriminated against because eliminating their sport meant the university would not be providing enough athletic opportunities for men.
"The number of years of reinstatement shows recruits and incoming freshmen that, 'Look, I can row my entire collegiate career at this university and not have to worry about it being stripped away from me,' " Ben Komita, a lawsuit plaintiff and now-graduated rower, said of the tentative settlement.
"And I think having that is an excellent trampoline and jumping-off point for recruiting and attracting people here," Komita said of rebuilding the rowing program.
More: 'Miracle': Florida Tech women's rowers win big with only 5 teammates, defying long odds
A federal judge in Orlando granted a preliminary injunction in February that restored the men’s rowing team to varsity status as legal arguments continued. Key terms of the new court settlement, per a Monday afternoon press release:
Men’s rowing and men’s cross country will remain varsity sports for the next five academic years, through 2027-28. "That period of time gives appropriate opportunity to discuss future financial support," the university press release said.
An independent expert will verify Florida Tech's Title IX compliance in athletics for the next three academic years, through 2025-26.
Florida Tech will not attempt to count esports as a varsity sport for Title IX purposes until esports is recognized as such by the NCAA or another court. However, the esports program will continue as usual.
The university and the plaintiffs have signed the agreement, but the judge must still accept it.
In the press release, President John Nicklow — who started work on campus July 1 as Florida Tech's sixth permanent president — said "we look forward to renewed trust" between student-athletes, alumni and the community as the case settles.
“We are dedicated to providing athletics for students that enhance their collegiate experience, whether at the varsity or club level,” Nicklow said in the press release.
“Students are more successful when they are engaged, and we have never wavered in the commitment to foster those engagement opportunities," Nicklow said.
More: Meet new Florida Tech President John Nicklow, who's getting his feet wet on campus
“We are pleased that we have come to an agreement within Title IX law that balances the needs of our student-athletes and fits within our overall athletics program in a fiscally prudent approach. We have a long, rich history of rowing — another point never in dispute," he said. "We look forward to appropriately supporting our rowing students in the future."
University officials declined further comment Tuesday.
The lawsuit argued Florida Tech violated Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which says universities that receive federal funding must provide equal opportunity in athletics without regard to gender. In an unusual scenario, the STEM research institution with a predominantly male campus population failed to provide enough athletic opportunities for men, the lawsuit said.
In 2020-21, men represented 69% of the undergraduate population but only 59% of student athletes. The rowers' legal team calculated that more than 120 varsity athletics positions should have been provided to men, while female students had “far more athletic opportunities . . . more scholarship dollars and better treatment,” an August court filing said.
After their February reinstatement via court order, the Panthers men's rowers were named Comeback Team of the Year by the Intercollegiate Rowing Coaches Association. In late July, Florida Tech announced longtime women's rowing head coach Adam Thorstad was hired to lead the men's rowing program. Then in mid-August, women's rowing assistant coach Catherine Davie was named assistant coach of the men's program.
Craig McKay, president of the Friends of FIT Rowing Association, said his group now looks to shift gears from "saving varsity rowing" to working with the university toward long-term financial sustainment of the men's and women's programs. He said Nicklow has had "an immediate positive impact" on rebuilding trust with alumni.
McKay said Friends of FIT Rowing Association will launch a fundraising campaign in October incorporating monthly and annual pledges, sponsorships and other initiatives. He said the group's goal is to also restore the women's rowers to varsity status.
"This debacle has galvanized the alumni and friends and brought us all together. And we want to use that as a foundation to really build strong support," McKay said.
In a Tuesday email, Schofield said he was pleased that Florida Tech has committed to comply with Title IX.
"This was a hard-fought victory both at the injunction level and through discovery leading to this proposed settlement. A victory for all student-athletes, male and female, as it is yet another message to learning institutions that the courts will intervene when Title IX is not complied with," Schofield said.
"We are particularly pleased to see FIT commit to no less than a five-year term maintaining both men's crew and men's cross-country/track. Lastly, and on a personal note, I am particularly proud of the dedication and commitment of the crew alumni. Were it not for their involvement this result would not have been possible," he said.
Rick Neale is the South Brevard Watchdog Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY (for more of his stories, click here.) Contact Neale at 321-242-3638 or rneale@floridatoday.com. Twitter: @RickNeale1
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This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Title IX settlement may save Florida Tech men's rowing through 2028
