The other day, we told you about the assistant volleyball coach from San Jose State University (SJSU), Melissa Batie-Smoose, who filed a Title IX complaint against the school. The complaint detailed a terrible environment caused by Blaire Fleming, a man on the women’s team because he identifies as woman.
Several other women’s volleyball teams have forfeited matches against SJSU because of Fleming’s presence on the team and the fact that Fleming has spiked a volleyball into an opponent’s face on more than one occasion. One of the complaints Batie-Smoose made was Fleming worked with opposing team members to intentionally spike the ball at one of his own teammates.
Now we’ve learned that SJSU has indefinitely suspended Batie-Smoose:
BREAKING BREAKING. The news on the volleyball women situation is coming out so fast!!
Now the assistant head volleyball coach at San Jose State has been indefinitely suspended for blowing the whistle on what is going on inside the team and filing a title IX complaint!! 1/ pic.twitter.com/xry0hKtQLK
— Jennifer 🟥🔴🧙♀️🦉🐈⬛ 🦖 (@babybeginner) November 2, 2024
OutKick has learned that San Jose State suspended associate head volleyball coach Melissa Batie-Smoose indefinitely, effective as of Saturday.
The SJSU players were informed prior to the team’s match against New Mexico and many of the team members were emotional upon learning of the news, according to sources.
San Jose State said in a statement to OutKick:
‘The associate head coach of the San Jose State University women’s volleyball team is not with the team at this time, and we will not provide further information on this matter.’
And Outkick spoke with Batie-Smoose. This is what she said:
‘We had a match today at 12 p.m. [Pacific Time] versus New Mexico. I was there at 10:15 a.m. [because] we were scheduled to take court at 10:30 for our pass and serve time,’ Batie-Smoose recounted.
‘I walked into the building and was walking up the stairs to the gym, and I was met by administration, who asked me to step outside [and speak privately].’
At that point, SJSU officials informed Batie-Smoose that she was suspended indefinitely, effective immediately, and forced to turn over her keys and school ID.
She was not allowed to gather her belongings from her office, told to leave campus immediately, and instructed not to return to campus until further notice.
‘They said I would have to contact personnel at a later date to get into my office to get any of my belongings,’ she said.
Recommended
Now, this writer is not a lawyer, but this sure seems like retaliation to her, and is likely illegal.
@BatieSmoose, the whistleblower, who told all about the abuse the women and girls are facing inside that team has lost her job!
You all ask why no one speaks up? Well, it’s time to support those who do!! 2/https://t.co/sNgzKE9qfa
— Jennifer 🟥🔴🧙♀️🦉🐈⬛ 🦖 (@babybeginner) November 2, 2024
It is time to speak up.
As soon as I read the article, I knew that was going to happen. Soon to follow will be the co-captain getting kicked off the team.
— Nicwebby (@nicwebby) November 2, 2024
Yep.
The co-captain will be next.
Letting men compete in Women’s sports has to end.
Now.
Men who claim to be women are psychologically ill – & they are NOT women.
Only women should be allowed to compete against women. And the definition of woman is their sex at birth. Period.
— Colin Glassey – Author (@cglassey_author) November 3, 2024
It has to end.
Clarification? How can she be fired for filing a Title IX complaint? Isn’t that her right?
— Denyse O’Leary (@itsdesign) November 3, 2024
It is. The school doesn’t seem to care.
Why isn’t Fleming suspended for breaking team rules, conspiring with a rival team by giving the opponent scouting reports, and intentionally endangering a team member? We all know why the assistant coach was suspended and not Fleming
— MD143 (@partyrabbithole) November 2, 2024
We all know why.
Illegal retaliation by @SJSU. This coach is a hero, now we need some lawyer to make her a millionaire and sue the San Jose women-hating thugs into oblivion! #SaveWomensSports Get MEN out! https://t.co/Qaw7LQbZV7
— Conservative from Boulder (@a4waystop) November 3, 2024
This will lead to a big lawsuit.
Every coach should stand against men in women’s sports
EVERY. SINGLE. ONE.
It speaks to fairness in sports and the integrity of every ruling body in athletics
If this can happen to all of women’s sports, ANYTHING can happen in any sport – even men’s
DO NOT STAY SILENT 📢📢📢 https://t.co/s33e3TqVGK
— Cynthia Breheny (@PTElephant) November 3, 2024
Do not stay silent.
As always, maybe there’s more going on than has been reported. But my instinct is always going to be to support the person who is speaking the obvious truth against an administration clearly determined to lie. https://t.co/EOPkMGUaIv
— Ken Smith (@smithkl42) November 3, 2024
That’s our default position, too.
This must be a violation of CA whistleblower protection laws. https://t.co/oxKnw2Tq6O
— Joseph Biello, math fluids and reality (@biello_joseph) November 2, 2024
It sure seems like it is, based on some basic research:
Employees who file Title IX complaints or are involved in a Title IX complaint as a respondent are also protected against illegal retribution. This kind of action is unfortunately all too commonplace. Unlawful retaliation against employees can take many forms, including:
- Rescinding or withholding a promotion
- Refusing tenure
- Refusing a raise
- Demotion or undesirable transfer
- Suspension or termination
- Harassment
For example, if you are accused of violating a Title IX provision, any action taken by administration or colleagues to derail your career during that proceeding – or after that proceeding if you are found not responsible – may be considered unlawful retaliation.
So it seems SJSU has violated Title IX law to protect a ‘trans’ player after Batie-Smoose filed a complaint about the situation.
We will keep an eye on this as the story unfolds.
