HBCU News, Commentary and Information
Friday
June 2012
COMMENTS
Saturday
August 2011
COMMENTS
Written by HBCU Digest, Posted in Sports, Texas Southern University
Surina Dixon, former women’s basketball coach at Texas Southern University, won her federal lawsuit against the school and was awarded more than $700,000 in damages.
Dixon’s lawsuit concerned Title IX and Title VII claims of gender discrimination and retaliation.
Dixon was hired by TSU in March of 2008 and was fired three months later, having never coached a game at the school.
via Former TSU Coach Wins More than $700K in Lawsuit Against School.
Thursday
April 2010
COMMENTS
Written by HBCU Digest, Posted in Headlines, Sports, Texas Southern University
Surina Dixon, former head women’s basketball coach at Texas Southern University, has filed a gender discrimination lawsuit against her former employer. It is the second suit that Dixon has filed against the university; a 2008 filing was withdrawn by her attorney Todd Slobin.
Dixon’s lawsuit points out that she was offered only a one-year contract that would pay her $75,000 a year while TSU men’s basketball coach Tony Harvey was given a five-year deal that pays him $150,000 a year.
“In order to make sure that Surina’s rights were fully protected, there are certain administrative and governmental processes that were pursued and those measures take time.” said Todd Slobin, Dixon’s attorney, in an interview with FOX 26 Sports.
This is a problem with a number of colleges and universities, not just HBCUs. While pay should be equitable for men’s and women’s coaches without question, some athletic directors are caught in the compromising situation of salaries versus revenue bearing opportunities for the individual programs. Additionally, factors like professional experience and work evaluations also play a role in determining salary.
It’s tough because Dixon only held the position for three months after being hired by then-Athletic Director Johnnie Cole, only to be fired by his replacement, current AD Charles McClelland. If she can prove that her dismissal stemmed from advocating for equitable pay, there may be a far greater price for TSU to pay than the back pay and restoration she is seeking.
