UCLA, facing demands from the National Organization for Women and a possible lawsuit, said it will elevate the school's women's soccer team from club to varsity status for the 1993-94 season.
A law firm representing the team had threatened to sue the university if it did not raise the program to NCAA status, claiming the school was not in compliance with Title IX educational amendments.Jill Ratner, the team captain, had contacted the Los Angeles chapter of NOW after asking the university to upgrade the women's soccer program.
"We believe this is the correct thing to do and we have felt this way for a long time," UCLA athletic director Peter Dalis said Tuesday. "We have not been able to implement our plan because of our severe budget problems, but we felt this was the right time to move ahead."