KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – Western Michigan University and student-athletes who objected to its athletics vaccine mandate have settled the legal matter.
A joint statement issued Tuesday afternoon said members of the WMU women’s soccer team who had sued the university are “being awarded permanent relief from the athletics vaccine mandate, although they will continue to abide by testing and masking requirements.”
The university will also pay their legal fees, which total $34,000.
Four female soccer players at Western Michigan University challenged the school’s COVID-19 vaccine requirement for athlete, saying it violated their Christian beliefs.
The lawsuit filed in late August came days after a Michigan State University employee sued to block its mandate, which was broader and applied to all students, faculty and staff.
Emily Dahl, Hannah Redoute, Bailey Korhorn and Morgan Otteson said Western Michigan University required them to get a shot by the end of August or be removed from the team. According to their federal case filed in Grand Rapids, they were denied religious exemptions, and said the school did not require the general student body to be vaccinated.
Western Michigan said it has a “compelling interest” in acting to avoid the “significant risk” of an outbreak due to unvaccinated athletes.
The complete joint statement released Tuesday:
“The student-athletes involved in the vaccine lawsuit and Western Michigan University have reached a settlement of the pending litigation, allowing both parties to move forward. The settlement entails the students in the suit being awarded permanent relief from the athletics vaccine mandate, although they will continue to abide by testing and masking requirements. The University will pay their legal fees in the amount of $34,000. The Court of Appeals acknowledged that all parties were acting in good faith. The University wishes the student-athletes well in their academic and athletic careers, and the student-athletes are excited to continue their academic and athletic careers at WMU.”
WMU officials said they have no further comment.
