Update: Gender equity and staggered sports schedules

The U.S. Supreme Court, sending a case back to the Sixth Circuit, has kept alive Michigan school athletic directors' hopes of proving that they have a rational basis for scheduling some girls' sports in different seasons than the equivalent boys' sports (see Dec. 24-27, 2001; Jul. 10, 2004). ("Supreme Court ruling delays decision", Saginaw News, May 3; Hope Yen, "High Court Asks 6th Circuit to Reconsider Girls Sports Seasons Ruling", AP/Law.com, May 3). Mick McCabe of the Detroit Free Press says that based on actual results, the schools deserve to prevail; Michigan has one of the nation's highest rates of participation by girls in sports and disproportionately graduates girls who win athletic scholarships in the relevant sports of volleyball and basketball. ("Gender equity no-brainer as Title IX case", May 6).