2008 Woodie Awards
Athletes must take wrestling's lead in protesting
Issue date: 2/17/06 Section: Opinion
There was an informational meeting Thursday so that people associated or sympathizing with the eight discontinued varsity sports could get riled up and ready to make their voices heard. Here's a good question. Where was everybody when it happened?
The varsity sports cuts were announced almost three weeks ago. A few days after the announcements, the rumors began to fly about a possible protest or march in the quad. It could have been a silent march, people screaming and holding signs-either of these would have been a really great way to stir some excitement and more awareness about the cuts.
But instead, there was an awareness meeting, and hardly anyone showed up. Not exactly the most noticeable form of protest known to mankind.
However, to loop all of the sports teams into this equation would not be fair, because there is a team that is making its presence known across campus.
The wrestling team seems to making the most waves about this issue. Led by coach Derek DelPorto, a Slippery Rock alum and wrestler here, the team has been very vocal about the cuts. That includes a recent flyer detailing the Rock's final home wrestling match. You may have seen it around campus. It shows Old Main crumbling and a caricature of President Smith riding around on a scooter.
Why is that acceptable and not offensive to our administration? Because the wrestling team is expressing its views, not only on the actual cuts, but on the administration as well.
A couple swimmers and water polo players have been on campus TV and made their views heard as well, but for the most part, those teams haven't protested to the extent of the wrestlers.
Doing nothing and stirring in silence isn't working in this situation. Not talking about the issue may make it go away temporarily, but it doesn't eliminate the situation or make it any better. It will still be there, only the sports cuts will become less of a priority while other issues are being dealt with. But, if people make enough of a fuss about it, then there's always that slight chance somebody will have a change of heart and reinstate a sport later on down the road.
At The Rocket, we feel the teams that were cut must take wrestling's lead and become more of a public presence around campus. That way, the current students and administration just might be influenced and think differently about the situation.
The varsity sports cuts were announced almost three weeks ago. A few days after the announcements, the rumors began to fly about a possible protest or march in the quad. It could have been a silent march, people screaming and holding signs-either of these would have been a really great way to stir some excitement and more awareness about the cuts.
But instead, there was an awareness meeting, and hardly anyone showed up. Not exactly the most noticeable form of protest known to mankind.
However, to loop all of the sports teams into this equation would not be fair, because there is a team that is making its presence known across campus.
The wrestling team seems to making the most waves about this issue. Led by coach Derek DelPorto, a Slippery Rock alum and wrestler here, the team has been very vocal about the cuts. That includes a recent flyer detailing the Rock's final home wrestling match. You may have seen it around campus. It shows Old Main crumbling and a caricature of President Smith riding around on a scooter.
Why is that acceptable and not offensive to our administration? Because the wrestling team is expressing its views, not only on the actual cuts, but on the administration as well.
A couple swimmers and water polo players have been on campus TV and made their views heard as well, but for the most part, those teams haven't protested to the extent of the wrestlers.
Doing nothing and stirring in silence isn't working in this situation. Not talking about the issue may make it go away temporarily, but it doesn't eliminate the situation or make it any better. It will still be there, only the sports cuts will become less of a priority while other issues are being dealt with. But, if people make enough of a fuss about it, then there's always that slight chance somebody will have a change of heart and reinstate a sport later on down the road.
At The Rocket, we feel the teams that were cut must take wrestling's lead and become more of a public presence around campus. That way, the current students and administration just might be influenced and think differently about the situation.
