Maria Beckman, UCF’s Title IX coordinator, confirmed that UCF’s Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action launched an inquiry into whether the UCF Recreation and Wellness Center is in violation of Title IX.
“I can confirm that I am looking in to whether the RWC is applying its dress code in a discriminatory manner based on sex,” said Beckman.
Mo Barhamje, a former SGA vice presidential candidate, filed the Title IX complaint Thursday morning with Beckman. The complaint came just one day after Barhamje was asked to leave the UCF RWC for wearing what he believes was within the clothing policy, especially considering what women are being allowed to wear.
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to get UCF News like this on your feeds!
Follow @UCFKnightNews
UCF’s policy on the Title IX states, “Prohibited conduct includes treating a member of one sex differently than the other, based on sex.” The entire document can be found here.
Barhamje said Beckman told him that since the policy does not specify what gender it applies to, that it applies to both genders. She proceeded to tell Barhamje that if the rule is being enforced differently amongst genders, that it would be a violation of Title IX, according to Barhamje.
Barhamje said that Beckman was very intrigued by the complaint when he presented it to her.
“When I explained the underlying reasons behind it though, she definitely appeared sympathetic,” said Barhamje.
Barhamje is just one of the students who are upset with the controversial policy.
After starting a petition to rethink the string tank ban, and calling out the staff for failing to enforce the policy with women, Austin Medlin says he has been banned from UCF RWC for “continuous disrespect.” The petition has been signed by over 800 people and has been given constant attention over social media sites like twitter and Facebook.
Since being banned from the RWC, Medlin has signed up at LA Fitness and says he hasn’t been confronted for wearing a string tank. Medlin said he was welcomed at LA Fitness with a high five after signing up.
