Wagner College’s Compliance with Federal Rules on Transgender Athletes
Wagner College, a small private liberal arts institution on Staten Island, New York, has decided to adhere to the Trump administration’s regulations regarding transgender student-athletes. This move follows a federal investigation triggered by an incident during a women’s fencing competition in March.
The Department of Civil Rights initiated an investigation after one participant, Stephanie Turner, 31, declined to compete against Wagner student Red Sullivan, 19, during a tournament at the University of Maryland. Turner protested on her knees, arguing that Sullivan’s participation contradicted competition regulations.
The video of Turner’s disqualification gained significant attention, especially among conservative activists and politicians, leading to widespread discussion on platforms like Fox News.
Rep. Mike Lee (R-Utah) even commended Turner’s actions, calling them “heroic” in a response to a video shared by Riley Gaines, a vocal critic of transgender women in sports.
In May, Turner was invited to testify at a hearing held by the House Subcommittee on Government Efficiency regarding the incident.
The Cherry Blossom Open, which takes place annually at the University of Maryland, is open to participants beyond university students, and Turner is a former competitor. Currently residing just outside Philadelphia, she had been involved in the fencing community there.
Sullivan, who competes individually now, had been part of Wagner’s women’s fencing team until February. That was when the NCAA announced compliance with a Presidential Order that bars transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports.
In an interview with Rolling Stone, Sullivan reflected on her encounter with Turner, expressing confusion over the situation, noting, “Nothing like this has occurred at a women’s event before.”
American Fencing, the sport’s governing body, announced in July that it would update its policies around transgender and non-binary participation to align with changes set forth by the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee, which restricts transgender women from competing in women’s events.
As part of its agreement with the Trump administration, Wagner plans to revise its policies to reflect a “biologically based” understanding of gender. This follows a Presidential Order declaring that the U.S. recognizes only two genders.
Additionally, the university will issue a statement affirming its commitment to Title IX, a federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in educational settings and restricts transgender individuals from participating in women’s sports.
The University of Pennsylvania, Trump’s alma mater, similarly accepted a resolution in July addressing these issues.
In a recent statement, Wagner’s president, Jeffrey Doggett, emphasized the institution’s commitment to nurturing welcoming environments while navigating federal regulations. He expressed regret over the impacts on student-athletes stemming from institutions that permit trans women to compete.
Doggett highlighted that Wagner’s agreement with the administration is distinctly different from those at other universities that faced violations. He noted, “We were able to collaborate with OCR investigators to negotiate terms that were limited, minimally intrusive, and specifically tailored to Wagner’s situation.”
He also mentioned that the university was abiding by existing NCAA and US fencing guidelines, and clarified that the agreement did not imply any admission of wrongdoing by Wagner.
“Higher education is indeed undergoing significant changes,” Doggett added. “Wagner is navigating these turbulent times to ensure its long-term success.”
