2008 Woodie Awards
Athletes put more effort in saving sports
Issue date: 2/24/06 Section: Rocket Letters
To the Editor:
The day athletics were cut I woke up at 5:30 in the morning to head off to the ARC for club lacrosse practice. Afterwards, I headed to class. On the way back from that day's classes, I was bombarded by stories of athletes crying on the phone to their parents and whispers of rumored cuts floating through the air in the quad. Upon returning to my dorm room, I check my e-mail only to find a letter from my coach demanding an emergency meeting. From that point on I knew the rumors were true, and from that point on I prepared myself to fight.
That eventful and dismal day only accelerated from there. Meeting with my coaches and teammates, we mourned for ourselves and our fellow athletes. We sat in complete shock and disbelief. Soon after, we rushed over to the field house for the personal team meeting that President Smith, Dr. Watson and Mr. Lueken had generously arranged for us. After drilling the administration with questions and concerns for over an hour, I returned back to my room. With the information the president of the university had provided, my teammates and I began to research. In addition to our research, I received countless e-mails by student-athletes on campus about their outrage and interest in doing something.
The point is that for the past three weeks since the eight athletic teams were eliminated from Slippery Rock University, athletes have been working to figure out a way to save our sports. In addition, a group of athletes from each sport have been meeting every day to figure out a way to retaliate. Every day athletes have been going on with their extremely busy lives and trying to fight to get their athletics back. Each day my team has been researching, contacting other schools, writing letters and attending meetings.
I am appalled at The Rocket's negative press towards the athletes as a whole. I'm assuming that The Rocket was attempting to light a flame in the athletes and the student body by instilling anger within us; however, that is not the way to accomplish anything. The wrestling team is not the only team taking action, and the CAS meeting was poorly advertised to say the least. Many athletes have already had their questions answered, which is perhaps why there was low attendance at the CAS meeting.
I agree that support is needed by everyone, and I appreciate the CAS' attempt to rally that support. I just feel that it was completely unnecessary for The Rocket, through cartoons, opinion articles and front page stories, to bash the intentions of the rest of the people affected by these cuts. I am personally hurt by The Rocket's accusations and comparisons. If the paper wants to help and rally support, I suggest that they start by sympathizing and offering aid to the athletes rather than condemning them for something the paper knows little about.
This has been a long process. Since that Monday in January, many athletes, faculty and community members have been working as hard as possible to do something. It may take some time, but I guarantee that action will take place. There is much going on behind the scenes.
Jennifer Venet
Freshman
Exercise Science major
Member of the SRU Field Hockey
Team
The day athletics were cut I woke up at 5:30 in the morning to head off to the ARC for club lacrosse practice. Afterwards, I headed to class. On the way back from that day's classes, I was bombarded by stories of athletes crying on the phone to their parents and whispers of rumored cuts floating through the air in the quad. Upon returning to my dorm room, I check my e-mail only to find a letter from my coach demanding an emergency meeting. From that point on I knew the rumors were true, and from that point on I prepared myself to fight.
That eventful and dismal day only accelerated from there. Meeting with my coaches and teammates, we mourned for ourselves and our fellow athletes. We sat in complete shock and disbelief. Soon after, we rushed over to the field house for the personal team meeting that President Smith, Dr. Watson and Mr. Lueken had generously arranged for us. After drilling the administration with questions and concerns for over an hour, I returned back to my room. With the information the president of the university had provided, my teammates and I began to research. In addition to our research, I received countless e-mails by student-athletes on campus about their outrage and interest in doing something.
The point is that for the past three weeks since the eight athletic teams were eliminated from Slippery Rock University, athletes have been working to figure out a way to save our sports. In addition, a group of athletes from each sport have been meeting every day to figure out a way to retaliate. Every day athletes have been going on with their extremely busy lives and trying to fight to get their athletics back. Each day my team has been researching, contacting other schools, writing letters and attending meetings.
I am appalled at The Rocket's negative press towards the athletes as a whole. I'm assuming that The Rocket was attempting to light a flame in the athletes and the student body by instilling anger within us; however, that is not the way to accomplish anything. The wrestling team is not the only team taking action, and the CAS meeting was poorly advertised to say the least. Many athletes have already had their questions answered, which is perhaps why there was low attendance at the CAS meeting.
I agree that support is needed by everyone, and I appreciate the CAS' attempt to rally that support. I just feel that it was completely unnecessary for The Rocket, through cartoons, opinion articles and front page stories, to bash the intentions of the rest of the people affected by these cuts. I am personally hurt by The Rocket's accusations and comparisons. If the paper wants to help and rally support, I suggest that they start by sympathizing and offering aid to the athletes rather than condemning them for something the paper knows little about.
This has been a long process. Since that Monday in January, many athletes, faculty and community members have been working as hard as possible to do something. It may take some time, but I guarantee that action will take place. There is much going on behind the scenes.
Jennifer Venet
Freshman
Exercise Science major
Member of the SRU Field Hockey
Team
