College should be a safe place – physically, emotionally and intellectually – where students can learn about themselves and their world. One’s gender identity is a part of this learning. During their college years students develop, grow into, learn about, and communicate their gender in the multitude of ways that reflect physical, emotional and intellectual factors.

In 2005-06, a Bates athlete will continue to compete in women’s track and field events while self identifying as a male, changing his first name and asking our community to refer to him using male pronouns. Since he will not have changed his physiology to male, he will meet the criteria required to continue to compete in women’s sports.

At Bates, we educate all of our students in an environment supportive of their development and free of discrimination.