Late last year, Rowan University in New Jersey made national headlines after reports the school told women cross-country runners they could no longer practice in uncovered sports bras because the men's football coach had complained that it distracted his players.

Some students there said the controversy brought to light a culture of sexism and bullying in the South Jersey state school's athletics program.

Now, a recent investigation by the Chronicle of Higher Education takes a deeper look at allegations of gender bias and retaliation.

The publication also uncovered correspondence and audio that show a contentious relationship between the head of the athletics department and female runners that goes back years.

"We're going through a period of dramatic cultural change and it's not surprising to me at all that when these women spoke up, nationally they were applauded as heroes, " Jack Stripling, senior writer for The Chronicle of Higher Education, told All Things Considered host Jami Floyd. "But what they experienced on their own campus was more of what you also hear from women which is once the dust settled, they were called into a meeting...that they describe as a dressing down."

Click 'Listen' for the interview.