Wagner College in Staten Island has entered a Resolution Agreement with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights to resolve Title IX violations related to its athletics policy. The case began after Stephanie Turner, a female fencer, forfeited a match in protest against competing with a biological male who had joined Wagner’s women’s team after previously competing on the men’s team.
Federal investigators determined the college violated Title IX by allowing male participation in female athletics. In response, Wagner agreed to revise its athletic policy to define “male” and “female” based on biological sex. The school will also publicly confirm compliance with Title IX, remove all prior policies permitting male athletes in women’s sports, and issue a formal apology to the affected athletes.
U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon praised the agreement as a key win for women’s sports, crediting President Trump’s leadership for restoring Title IX enforcement. The action follows similar federal resolutions at other institutions and reflects ongoing efforts to protect women’s rights in athletics.
USA Fencing has since updated its own policies to bar males, including transgender women, from female divisions. The Wagner case marks a significant precedent as schools nationwide adjust to federal mandates defending biologically based fairness in women’s sports.
