The Ohio State University is facing a federal lawsuit from former assistant cheerleading coach Siobhan St. John, who alleges she was wrongfully terminated after advocating for greater diversity in the school’s athletic department.
St. John’s complaint, filed Friday, accuses OSU of racial, gender, and religious discrimination in violation of Title VII and Ohio state law. She claims the university’s leadership undermined her job responsibilities, retaliated against her, and ultimately fired her because of her outspoken criticism regarding the lack of Black women in senior athletic positions.
A Decade of Advocacy Turns Into Alleged Retaliation
During her 10-year tenure at OSU, St. John became known for her strong advocacy for Black women’s advancement within the university. She was an active member of the Buckeye Inclusion Committee, served as OSU’s athletics diversity and inclusion designee, and received awards for her efforts in pushing for greater representation.
But according to her lawsuit, her outspoken stance on the scarcity of Black women in leadership within the athletics department put a target on her back. Of OSU’s 38 varsity head coaches, St. John noted that only two were Black—both men.
