Trinity College Women’s Athletic League Petitions for Equity in Stadium Renovation Projects, Requests Title IX Assessment

Jack P. Carroll ’24 

Managing Editor 

The Trinity College Women’s Athletic League (TWAL), a coalition of representatives from the women’s athletic teams, created an online petition last week to “Stop Gender Inequity in Athletics at Trinity College.” The petition, which has garnered over 1,700 signatures, was created by women athletes at Trinity who allege gender disparities in the Jesse Miller (Men’s Lacrosse/Football) and Robin L. Sheppard Fields (Women’s Field Hockey/Lacrosse) renovation projects. The petition also requests a full assessment of Trinity’s compliance with Title IX and achievement of the law’s requirements by January 2022.  

The coalition, which first gathered on Friday, Sept. 24, indicated that its grievances date back to the spring of 2019 when the Board of Trustees approved the renovation design and scheduled a February 2020 start for construction. After pausing all capital projects amidst the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Trustees approved resuming the Miller and Sheppard Fields renovations at their February 2021 meeting.  

Vice President for Student Success and Enrollment Management announced via email that the renovations would include new spectator stands for Trinity and visiting fans, a press box supporting both fields, enclosed suites, warming rooms for Trinity athletes and visiting teams, as well as modern and accessible restroom facilities.  

However, since the Trustees’ last meeting, the football stadium is near completion whereas Sheppard Fields still requires significantly more work.  

“The proposed plan of a stadium capable of holding a total of 1,000 spectators on the sideline of Sheppard field (women’s) in preparation for the hosting the NCAA final four and championship, turned out to be an unimpressive set of 5-row metal bleachers that were set up in a matter of days,” the petition states. “Regardless of the plans, the end product on the Sheppard side is not the same quality, nor does it provide the same spectator experience as the Miller side (Men’s).”

The Tripod spoke with DiChristina and Athletic Director Drew Galbraith Thursday, Oct. 7 about the renovation projects. Galbraith attributed the incomplete status of the Sheppard Fields renovation to “man power and supply chain issues” caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Galbraith explained that the College has just received windscreens–used to cover the back of Jesse Miller and Sheppard fields–that were included in the original plans. Responding to questions about the end date of the Sheppard fields renovation, Galbraith stated that “it’s difficult to tell” and the College is “literally at the whims of manpower.”

DiChristina and Galbraith told the Tripod that they, along with Associate Director of Athletics Kristen Noone, would host a second meeting with the Women’s Softball team later that day. The Women’s Lacrosse team met with them for the second time Wednesday. Galbraith indicated that Women’s Field Hockey team has not yet had a second meeting citing concerns about hosting a meeting before their weekend game.

This article was updated on Friday, Oct. 8 to include comments from DiChristina and Galbraith.