Daily Iowan

Issue date: 12/3/07 Section: Metro

Media Credit: Rachel Mummey/The Daily Iowan

A former UI associate professor of law plans to file a Title IX complaint against the university over the pink visitors' locker room in Kinnick Stadium.

Jill Gaulding, who spoke out against the pink locker room in 2005, said she plans to file the complaint because of the inappropriateness of the university's action in rebuilding the pink locker room during stadium renovations. Some have complained that the pink color is derogatory toward women, intending to make visiting teams feel like "sissies."

Jennifer Modestou, the director of UI Equal Opportunity and Diversity, said that when Title IX complaints are filed, her office looks to witnesses and documents involved with the situation and begins an investigation. The office aims to complete the process within 45 days.

Following the formal investigation, she said, the office makes recommendations to the dean or vice president of the affected department, but it's up to the administrators to handle the situation.

Steve Parrott, the director of University Relations, said he has been unable to contact Gaulding and that the university does not respond to potential lawsuits.

"If a complaint is filed, we will respond in the appropriate venue, which is through the court system," he said in an e-mail, declining further comment.

An "interesting series of events" played out when the controversy surfaced two years ago, Gaulding said.

Following internal discussion with then-President David Skorton in 2005, Gaulding and colleague Erin Buzuvis made a public statement on the issue to a NCAA public hearing.

Gaulding, who left the university in part because of how the locker-room ordeal panned out, said then-Vice Provost Patricia Cain made the decision not to include the statement because it was "a university issue" and should be dealt with internally.

Plans for Skorton to form a committee to look into the matter were not executed.

"The university was very discouraging when trying to make it a public issue," Gaulding said, pointing to numerous e-mails left unanswered by the administration.

Since 2005, the controversy has lain dormant, which she attributes to a lack of permanent leadership available to address the issue.

Gaulding recently sent UI President Sally Mason a letter congratulating her on her new position and asking what she was willing to do to address the issue of the pink locker room.

Continued...

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