Did Swarthmore College betray a student ?
By Bob Small
Once Swarthmore College Transgender Student Evelyn “Evie” Parts was accepted as a member in the Swarthmore College Track team, and subsequently elected captain, she assumed she would be running right up until this year’s graduation.
However, she was removed on Feb.6 , which was the day the NCAA issued a new “Transgender” policy. She, however, was “fully reinstated” as of April 11.
Parts’ lawyer, Susie Cirilli, argues “the NCAA is a private organization that issued a bigoted policy and that “Swarthmore College chose to follow that policy and disregard federal and state law.”
Parts is a 2025 graduate with a degree in Biology and Environmental Studies. The suit was filed Aug. 14 in Eastern District Court. Parts joined the track team, returning in 2023 after gender-affirming surgery.
She was named track captain for the 2024-25 season.
In response to the suit, Swarthmore College issued a statement that begins “We deeply value our transgender community members “
This was even reported by the British Newspaper, The Sun choose to focus on Parts” depression and suicidal thoughts after being removed. They quoted Cirilli as saying “the NCAA is a private organization that issued a bigoted policy.”
Pink News chimed in to say that the PA Senate had passed a law banning transgender athletes but Senate Bill 9 remains stuck in the State House House. More than likely, it would not be signed by current Gov. Josh Shapiro
It should also be mentioned that “The board of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) reportedly didn’t consult with its own medical consultants before voting to ban all transgender women from women’s sports earlier this year.”
The alternative she was given when she was removed from the women’s team, according to the lawsuit , was that “that she could only compete with the men’s team or as an unattached athlete, and would only receive medical treatment if she competed on the men’s team. ““”
Swarthmore College, and other institutions, seem to regulate based on who’s in office and which way the wind is blowing.
OK, so the ironically-named Parts is actually a man, correct?
Then he doesn’t belong competing with women.
Small should have clarified this in his essay.
Agreed. I was just about to ask why this male athlete is referred to as “she” throughout the article.
Note; The first line says transgender student.