2008 Woodie Awards
Row, row, row your boat admirably out of Murray
Alison Mugler
Issue date: 5/2/08 Section: Sports
With the final publication of the Murray State News for the 2007-08 academic year, my original plan for the sports column was to discuss highlights from some of the top games from sports teams this season.
Unfortunately, plans have digressed due to the recent decision of the athletic department to discontinue the women's rowing team.
Throughout the past week or so, a lot of the ews staff have been discussing the bits and pieces of gossip we have heard regarding this topic.
Much of this information was heard through the grapevine, and therefore was not taken very seriously. I, for one, did not think the plans would actually go through.
I am sure this decision came as a shock to most of campus, as many of you might be hearing about it for the first time in this column.
Simply worded, the athletic department has made this decision to cut women's due to the "pending cost-containment activities," along with the ensurance of a continued progress toward Title 9 compliance regulations.
Although I understand that the athletic department has its job to do, it is unfortunate, especially as a female athlete, to hear news of a women's team being 'discontinued.' Nevertheless, I do somewhat understand both sides of the story and intend to tell you why.
I think the athletic department was faced with a tough decision this week; and although I do not know if they had any other choice than to cut women's rowing, I do know the effect it has had on people has done nothing but cultivate since 2 p.m. on Tuesday.
I know a lot of the statements the department has made seem to add up on paper; and although it greatly pains me to say it, they could be right. There are, in fact, more male than female athletes on campus, so the efforts to proportion the two sexes make perfect sense.
Adding softball and equestrian to the sports line-up is understandable. The Equestrian Club has been around for years at a school who's mascot is in fact a horse, while in a state that annually hosts the Kentucky Derby.
Unfortunately, plans have digressed due to the recent decision of the athletic department to discontinue the women's rowing team.
Throughout the past week or so, a lot of the ews staff have been discussing the bits and pieces of gossip we have heard regarding this topic.
Much of this information was heard through the grapevine, and therefore was not taken very seriously. I, for one, did not think the plans would actually go through.
I am sure this decision came as a shock to most of campus, as many of you might be hearing about it for the first time in this column.
Simply worded, the athletic department has made this decision to cut women's due to the "pending cost-containment activities," along with the ensurance of a continued progress toward Title 9 compliance regulations.
Although I understand that the athletic department has its job to do, it is unfortunate, especially as a female athlete, to hear news of a women's team being 'discontinued.' Nevertheless, I do somewhat understand both sides of the story and intend to tell you why.
I think the athletic department was faced with a tough decision this week; and although I do not know if they had any other choice than to cut women's rowing, I do know the effect it has had on people has done nothing but cultivate since 2 p.m. on Tuesday.
I know a lot of the statements the department has made seem to add up on paper; and although it greatly pains me to say it, they could be right. There are, in fact, more male than female athletes on campus, so the efforts to proportion the two sexes make perfect sense.
Adding softball and equestrian to the sports line-up is understandable. The Equestrian Club has been around for years at a school who's mascot is in fact a horse, while in a state that annually hosts the Kentucky Derby.
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