Story by Viviana Valencia, Staff Writer, Photo Courtesy of G. Fiume
An executive order restricting Title IX was signed by President Donald J. Trump in his first month in office. This law is part of the Education Amendments, which prohibits sex-based discrimination in education programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance, ensuring equal opportunities for all.
This authorizes banning transgender women from competing in women’s sports. The “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports” executive order affirms a pause in any federal funds being made directly in educational institutions that don’t follow the mandate. Trump’s administration now has a hold on the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), which sets rules and guidelines for college athletes in various sports and levels of competitions.
In response to the executive order, Charles Booker, the president of the NCAA, stated that they would “take necessary steps to align NCAA policy,” following through with the ban.
On February 6, 2025, an announcement updating NCAA transgender student-athlete policy claiming NCAA women’s sports will be restricted to students assigned female at birth.
Considering action being made across the nation, Wes Mcurtis, Cypress College’s Athletic Director and Associate Dean of Kinesiology, says “at our level in the California Community College Athletics Association (CCCAA), we are still following the standard that we have previously established before the executive order […] so far nothing has changed.”
The CCCAA constitution provides a Transgender Student-Athlete Eligibility form that states, “It is important to understand that this appeal is only for athletic eligibility at a California Community College. Continued athletic competition at an NCAA […] institution may not receive the same consideration.” meaning transgender student athletes may continue to play in their sport as long as they meet the standard health guideline given in the eligibility form. For more follow-up information, students can visit the CCCAA Constitution website.
Several student-athletes at Cypress College have concerns about the order and how it will affect their career as athletes.
Madi Cardena, a player for the Cypress College women’s soccer team said, “Sports should be unifying especially going through childhood, most of my friends I have met through my sport.” They continued by discussing the impact that being able to play sports has on a person no matter their gender.
Others have concerns about fairness considering play. Abraham Nacu, an accounting major at Cypress, shared his concerns; “I believe it isn’t fair…biologically, bone structure is different from the opposite sex, and that includes muscle strength too. It seems unfair [for women assigned at birth] to go against an opponent like that…for most athletes, that is a fear,” he said.
As for the time being 3C2A has not made any changes to its policies restricting transgender student-athletes from partaking in any sport. For more new law sports updates around the U.S., you can visit the NCAA website.
