I assume that Loughborough’s Stonewall accreditation helps bring in money for trans sport research from people who are looking for justification for trans inclusion in women’s sport. If so it is a slippery slope.
From what I hear, world top ten departments, and Loughborough’s sports science will be up there, are a bit like football teams. Attract key players, which in turn attracts research money, and then the published results help push you further up the rankings. Loughborough is an interesting example because a lot of its reputation comes from sport, including from students who want to maintain high level sports participation balanced with good academics.
The key to good research is academic freedom. It will only take a few half cock bits of research for others in the field to notice. When a job comes up they don’t apply. They are already very aware of the politics within the field. Why would you give yourself more grief by switching to a Stonewall backed, Mermaids linked University. Any bias in a department is then amplified as the recruitment pool will be made up of people who feel they will fit in.
Instead Loughborough should be neutral and seen to be neutral. Then carry out the research which is seem as academically rigorous which can then be cited by those who want to ensure that sport for women and girls is fair. Funding should be available. In the end there are plenty of people who understand that sport for 50% of the population needs to be fair to ensure good participation and support. Very few will pay to watch transwomen win women’s medals. And who would pay a Stonewall champion to carry out unbiased research. The bias is there in plain sight.