Editorial
Athletics seeks to cut swimming, diving team due to lack of funding
March 7, 2014
The swimming and diving team has been put under the microscope unfairly by the Athletics Department.
While finding solutions to fix the budget and deal with a deficit is a struggle, we believe the Athletics Department could have been handling it better.
For instance, the town hall meeting that was scheduled at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, March 3, was announced in the Falcon Daily, which is only sent out to those who are subscribed to it.
Student Senate Vice President Tony Sumnicht requested that a campus wide email be sent out before the meeting to bring attention to the meeting taking place. However, the email was not sent out until a few hours before the meeting, not leaving much time to gain attendees and increase awareness.
Just like any other sport on campus, the swimming and diving team has created strong friendships and has displayed immense dedication. Not only are athletes dedicated to being at 5 a.m. practice, they have rallied together each time the existence of the sport has been in question on campus.
The team has faced adversity before when the pool in Karges broke down fi ve years ago and it was being debated on whether or not to cut the team. When the team did not have a coach at the beginning of the fall semester this year, it was in danger again, which initiated the athletes to work together to find a coach just in time.
The swimming and diving team should not be cut. Due to Title IX rules, the amount of sports has to be equal in gender. Since the swimming and diving team is both a men’s and women’s team, campus would still be complying with the rules of Title IX. Although cutting the football team would mean that the women’s sports would dominate over the amount of men’s, there are other sports that could be taken into consideration for eliminating.
The men’s and women’s hockey teams could both be cut and campus would still be following the Title IX rules. Men’s and women’s track and fi eld teams could also be cut, since it would be eliminating both genders and once again following Title IX rules. Men’s and women’s basketball teams could even be considered for elimination.
To single out the swimming and diving team is not fair to the athletes that have worked hard to keep their sport alive on campus and who have shown dedication and enthusiasm. To make a decision so quickly on the existence of the sport on campus is disappointing.