TECH SWIMMERS PURSUE LAWSUIT

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, February 2, 1993                   TAG: 9302020005
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: SCOTT BLANCHARD STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short
TECH SWIMMERS PURSUE LAWSUIT
Virginia Tech swimmer Sarah Howerton said Monday she and her teammates will pursue a Title IX lawsuit against Tech, seeking restoration of the Hokies' women's swimming program.
A letter from the swimmers to Tech three weeks ago asked the school to reinstate the men's and women's programs, which were cut last year, and asked for a response by Jan. 22. As of Monday, the swimmers hadn't heard from Tech. Howerton said Monday the women swimmers are taking no response "as a negative response."
Tech's answer was delayed in part because school lawyer Jerry Cain left town for a week because of an illness in his family. On Monday, however, Cain said Tech's position isn't clear.
"I don't think a response has been formulated yet," he said. "They will get a response."
Cain said he was "not at liberty" to talk about a meeting he, Tech athletic director Dave Braine and others had shortly after receiving the swimmers' letter.
Title IX is a 1972 law that prohibits sex-based discrimination by institutions that receive financial aid. Howerton's letter to Tech claimed that by cutting women's swimming, Tech is denying women equal access to varsity-level sports. Braine has said his department's actions on gender equity have been deemed "proper" by the school's legal staff.

by Archana Subramaniam by CNB