2008 Woodie Awards
Rowing at Murray State continues on
After devastating budget cuts, athletes pick up the pieces
Aaron Butler
Issue date: 8/22/08 Section: Opinion
Following the events of last semester, the rowing program here at Murray State seemed doomed in the eyes of many observers from the outside looking in.
The budget cuts, which significantly diminished the women's team and their enrollment at Murray State, also had a profound effect on the men's program.
Even before the semester was out, the leadership of the rowing program resolved the crisis in such a way, allowing rowing to continue on this campus for many years to come.
One of the major questions left in the wake of the women's program cut was whether rowing would even exist for women on campus.
The answer was found in the existing men's team. The men's program, although receiving a significant cut in its campus funding, operated as a club sport and thus was not as dependent on the athletic department for its support. Right up until the cuts, both teams were working in collaboration with each other by sharing costs, equipment and practice time. The solution to the problem of the women's team seemed to be inside that collaboration.
It was decided both crews should merge under the leadership of one sports club: Murray State Rowing Club.
During summer break, much has been done to build a strong foundation for the Rowing Club's first year united as both a women's and men's team.
A constitution has been drafted to meet the needs of the club, which is now preparing for its largest membership base in recent years. Equipment has been purchased, which will guarantee Murray State rowers will be competitive in this fall's southern regatta calendar. Also key was the return of Matthew Weaver as team coach, who has been a member of Murray State rowing for more than five years.
Although the rowing program has now recovered from its initial trauma dealt just a few weeks before classes ended last Spring, it seems now ready to begin an unprecedented year of successes.
Still, one cannot help but think about all the female athletes that will not be with the team this year, those who had scholarships suddenly canceled and those who, having invested years of effort at their sport, suddenly found it callously taken away.
Ultimately, it was never a choice of whether this administration would continue rowing at Murray State. The decision was never in it's hands. To it, cutting funding seemed tantamount to erasing the 12-year history of Murray State's rowing program, but only the rowers themselves possess the choice to continue. In that spirit, the rowing team does continue.
We will carry the Ivy League banner even if this administration would rather Murray State be more noted as a community college-like school.
So, in the wake of budget cuts and the possibility, no doubt, of future financial troubles for this school, one can still be sure that at any given day, somewhere out on the water, rowers are working to maintain the prestige and glory of Murray State regardless of trepidations against them.
The budget cuts, which significantly diminished the women's team and their enrollment at Murray State, also had a profound effect on the men's program.
Even before the semester was out, the leadership of the rowing program resolved the crisis in such a way, allowing rowing to continue on this campus for many years to come.
One of the major questions left in the wake of the women's program cut was whether rowing would even exist for women on campus.
The answer was found in the existing men's team. The men's program, although receiving a significant cut in its campus funding, operated as a club sport and thus was not as dependent on the athletic department for its support. Right up until the cuts, both teams were working in collaboration with each other by sharing costs, equipment and practice time. The solution to the problem of the women's team seemed to be inside that collaboration.
It was decided both crews should merge under the leadership of one sports club: Murray State Rowing Club.
During summer break, much has been done to build a strong foundation for the Rowing Club's first year united as both a women's and men's team.
A constitution has been drafted to meet the needs of the club, which is now preparing for its largest membership base in recent years. Equipment has been purchased, which will guarantee Murray State rowers will be competitive in this fall's southern regatta calendar. Also key was the return of Matthew Weaver as team coach, who has been a member of Murray State rowing for more than five years.
Although the rowing program has now recovered from its initial trauma dealt just a few weeks before classes ended last Spring, it seems now ready to begin an unprecedented year of successes.
Still, one cannot help but think about all the female athletes that will not be with the team this year, those who had scholarships suddenly canceled and those who, having invested years of effort at their sport, suddenly found it callously taken away.
Ultimately, it was never a choice of whether this administration would continue rowing at Murray State. The decision was never in it's hands. To it, cutting funding seemed tantamount to erasing the 12-year history of Murray State's rowing program, but only the rowers themselves possess the choice to continue. In that spirit, the rowing team does continue.
We will carry the Ivy League banner even if this administration would rather Murray State be more noted as a community college-like school.
So, in the wake of budget cuts and the possibility, no doubt, of future financial troubles for this school, one can still be sure that at any given day, somewhere out on the water, rowers are working to maintain the prestige and glory of Murray State regardless of trepidations against them.
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