The Gist Penn Swimmer's Success Costs School Millions 3 Years Later
Mar 22, 2025
This discussion delves into the ramifications of reducing diversity initiatives in orchestras, highlighting the impact on underrepresented musicians. It also revisits the hot-button issue of transgender athletes in sports, focusing on Leah Thomas's influence on competitive fairness. The speakers explore the fallout from educational funding cuts related to these policy changes and the broader political exploitation of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. The conversation underscores the challenges facing both arts and athletics in maintaining inclusive environments.
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Penn Funding Cut
- The University of Pennsylvania was defunded by $175 million, about 20% of their federal grants.
- This was supposedly in response to a Title IX violation concerning swimmer Lia Thomas, who graduated three years prior.
Revisiting Lia Thomas
- Mike Pesca revisits his 2022 commentary on NCAA swimmer Lia Thomas, finding it mostly accurate.
- He acknowledges some omissions, like the objections of other swimmers, and some tonal adjustments.
Lia Thomas's Win
- Sports Illustrated called Lia Thomas the "most controversial athlete in America" due to the debate surrounding her participation in women's swimming.
- Thomas won the 500-meter freestyle at the NCAA championship, beating Olympic medalists.