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Penn Bans Trans Women From Women’s Sports, Erases Lia Thomas’ Records In Deal With Trump Admin

The University of Pennsylvania has reached a deal with the Trump administration to ban transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports at the school. The agreement, which includes erasing the achievements of swimmer Lia Thomas, will allow the school to access $175 million in funds that had been frozen during the dispute.

Thomas’ achievements erased under deal that bans trans athletes in women’s sports

The Department of Education announced that the University of Pennsylvania had reached a voluntary agreement with the government to resolve the dispute over transgender athletes, which largely revolved around swimmer Lia Thomas. Under the agreement, Penn will erase the records and accomplishments achieved by Thomas during her time competing for the school, including records in the 100-meter, 200-meter and 500-meter freestyle events. Thomas’ records and victories will be awarded to female non-transgender athletes who competed in the events won by Thomas.

Beyond the impact on Thomas, who last competed for Penn in 2022, the deal will ban other transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports for the school. This policy change follows additional restrictions placed on transgender athletes by the NCAA after pressure from the Trump administration, which had accused college sports of violating Title IX by allowing trans athletes to compete in women’s sporting events. UPenn President J. Larry Jameson stated in a news release that “Penn has always followed — and continues to follow — Title IX and the applicable policy of the NCAA regarding transgender athletes.” After making this deal, UPenn has regained access to $175 million in federal funds that the administration halted earlier in 2025, according to a statement from the White House on Tuesday.

GOP focus on trans exclusion under Trump

The Republican Party and the Trump administration have highlighted issues relating to transgender individuals in spaces such as sports and the military, generally seeking to limit or ban participation. Early in his current term, Trump issued executive orders banning transgender athletes from competing in women’s and girls’ sports, banning federal funding for transition-related health care for minors, and limiting federal recognition to biological sex rather than gender. Trump also banned transgender individuals from serving in the U.S. military, arguing that their health care costs were too expensive.

With issues of trans rights remaining polarized across party lines, reaction to the UPenn deal was mixed. College athlete turned Republican commentator Riley Gaines, who has pushed to ban trans athletes from women’s sports after tying with Thomas in a competition, celebrated the deal.

Others called out the Trump administration for targeting trans people for political reasons and condemned the Penn leadership from giving in to pressure. “UPenn was afraid of losing funding, and they’ve decided humiliating Lia Thomas is a worthy price to pay to save themselves,” writer Charlotte Clymer tweeted.

UPenn was afraid of losing funding, and they’ve decided humiliating Lia Thomas is a worthy price to pay to save themselves. Lia Thomas did nothing wrong. She followed the rules and competed fairly and honorably. UPenn’s leadership are cowards. https://t.co/g97K8UkjmN— Charlotte Clymer 🇺🇦 (@cmclymer) July 1, 2025

Tuesday’s deal with the University of Pennsylvania comes as the result of another effort by the Trump administration to limit participation by transgender people in a variety of settings. In doing so, Trump and the university appear to have brought to an end the high-profile case of Lia Thomas and restricted the future sports careers of other trans athletes as well. With both conservatives and progressives focusing on LGBTQ+ rights as a priority, this is unlikely to be the end of the political debate over the rights of transgender people in sports or other aspects of public life.

July 2, 2025

Blavity-U  ·  HBCU
Boston Politicians Want To Bring An HBCU To City

Boston city councilors are campaigning to open an HBCU. Although the city is a hub for education, with Boston counting two dozen colleges and universities, it has never had an HBCU.

Council Vice President Brian Worrell said he wants to open an HBCU satellite campus in Boston during a meeting last week. He called for a hearing, which he hopes to be scheduled in the fall.

The idea to bring an HBCU to Boston was suggested during a recent city council meeting

“An HBCU presence would provide role models for current Black students by showing them a tangible pathway to success,” Worrell said, according to The Boston Herald. “Boston led the way in educating Black students in the first half of the 19th century, with the opening of the Abiel Smith School, and we need to discover that trailblazing spirit once again.”

Cory McCarthy, Boston’s public schools chief of student support, added that “the appetite for a HBCU has grown immensely within the last five years.”

“An opportunity to bring a HBCU to Boston would further highlight the commitment and dedication of our city to create an educational ecosystem that values, elevates and develops opportunities for Black students to be successful,” he said.

Boston’s initiative would address the lack of HBCUs in Northern states

Not only is the initiative being brought forward in order to address a historical lack of HBCUs in northern states, it is also a way to bring diverse education to Boston in a time when both education and diversity efforts are being targeted by the Trump administration. 

“There are more than 100 historically Black colleges and universities in the country, with the vast majority of them located in southern states as a response to Jim Crow laws,” the Council order indicates, according to The Boston Herald. “The need for more culturally sensitive schools, such as HBCUs, has grown in the past decade based upon current rulings and the actions of the current federal administration.”

The initiative is being spearheaded by the Building Bridges HBCU program, which is helping bring a satellite campus for an HBCU in Boston. They are expected to provide an update on their efforts in the fall.

July 2, 2025

Blavity-U  ·  HBCU
Beyonce’s BeyGOOD Donates $100K To Texas Southern University’s Ocean Of Soul Marching Band

The BeyGOOD Foundation, established by Houston’s own Beyoncé, donated $100,000 to Texas Southern University’s Ocean of Soul Marching Band.

What is the donation for?

The grant will fund scholarships for band members, enhance recruitment and retention efforts, and upgrade band infrastructure and technology.

“We are deeply appreciative of the BeyGOOD Foundation for this significant demonstration of its commitment to empowering our student musicians and elevating their form of artistic expression,” Texas Southern University President J.W. Crawford III said.

How is Bey connected to the HBCU band?

Per Black Enterprise, the Ocean of Soul Marching band has close ties to Beyoncé after 200 band members performed with her during her 2024 NFL Christmas Day halftime show performance. 

In a news release announcing the donation, band director Brian Simmons said, “The Ocean of Soul is known for its signature sound, precision, and choreography.” He continued, “Mrs. Knowles-Carter’s vision for the ‘Beyoncé Bowl’ challenged us to reach new heights, and our students met that challenge with energy, soul, and discipline. Being handpicked for this performance underscores the legacy of Texas Southern.”

The gift ‘exemplifies how philanthropy can uplift communities and ignite futures’

Charlie Coleman III, senior associate vice president of development & alumni engagement, said, “This partnership does more than support the Ocean of Soul — it opens doors for our students to engage with the arts in transformative ways, inspired by one of the most influential artists of our time. It exemplifies how philanthropy can uplift communities and ignite futures.”

Among her many philanthropic contributions is the LA Fire Relief Fund, where she has since distributed $3 million to over 200 residents. According to HBCU Buzz, as part of her “Beychella” performance, she launched the Homecoming Scholars Award Program, which awards $25,000 scholarships to students at several HBCUs.

July 2, 2025

Blavity-U
Siena Heights University Is Closing: Here’s Why

Siena Heights University announced on Monday that it will be closing at the end of the 2025-26 academic year. The institution said the decision is due to its “financial situation, operational challenges, and long-term sustainability.”

Siena Heights University first opened as a Catholic institution in 1919 by the Adrian Dominican Sisters. It offered classes both on campus and online. Its online programming course ranked high in the U.S. News and World Report.

Although most of its 1800 students took classes on campus, Siena Heights University also has centers in other parts of Michigan, such as Dearborn, Benton Harbor, Monroe, Battle Creek, Kalamazoo, Lansing and Jackson, according to CBS News.

“For 105 Years, Siena Heights University has been a beacon of light in a world sometimes cast in darkness,” president Dr. Douglas B. Palmer said in a statement. “The spirit of Siena Heights will continue long after the institution itself closes its doors because it lives in every graduate, faculty member, and staff person who has been on campus – whether in-person or online.”

Why is Siena Heights University closing?

Senior leadership cited financial strain and operational challenges, as well as difficulty regarding long-term sustainability.

“Despite the dedication of our board, faculty, staff, students, alumni, and supporters, continuing operations beyond the coming academic year is no longer feasible,” a statement read.

The number of students enrolled had dropped in the last two decades. The university listed over 2,300 students in fall 2008 and over 1,800 by 2023, according to MLive.

Yet, Siena Heights University announced that it had welcomed the largest freshman class in its history last August. Among the 445 students, over 100 entered the university via the Brain Gain program, a tuition-free opportunity that helps Michigan high school students pursue an education in private institutions.

Over 90% of undergraduate students also received financial aid, according to the school’s website.

What happens next for Siena Heights University students?

The university said it plans on continuing activities as usual for the 2025-2026 academic year. Students can expect a regular schedule regarding athletics, residential life, spring 2026 commencement and other community events.

“We are deeply grateful to the faculty, staff, students, and alumni who have worked hard decade after decade to make Siena Heights an incredibly special place,” Dr. Palmer said. “We look ahead to the next academic year planning all the activities one would normally get including athletics, residential life, and great events that we share with our alumni and entire community.”

The Siena Heights University president said students’ academic progress remains a top priority.

“We are already working on a list of academic partners who are prepared to take your full academic credit, to facilitate your transfer and to ensure that there is no interruption to your academic progress,” he added, according to MLive.

July 1, 2025