Story Created:
Apr 22, 2008 at 4:53 PM EDT
Story Updated:
Apr 23, 2008 at 11:55 AM EDT
University of Rhode Island students are getting a lesson in lobbying.
Many of those students are lobbying outside the Rhode Island State Capitol in a last ditch effort to help save their sports programs that are slated to be cut.
The University is eliminating four NCAA Division I sports programs to deal with state budget cuts.
The school announced Monday night that it will discontinue men's swimming, men's tennis and field hockey to shave $800,000 from the athletic budget for the upcoming 2009 fiscal year.
URI had announced earlier it was dropping gymnastics.
Athletic director Thorr Bjorn called the decisions "difficult and painful."
He said the department also is considering layoffs and early retirements, as well as generating more revenue.
URI is dealing with a $12 million drop in state funding and asked departments to cut their budgets by 10 percent.
Administrators said at an annual media breakfast on Friday they also are considering investing in fewer majors and establishing a single tuition rate for in-state and out-of-state students.
ABC 6 reporter Robert Goulston has the latest reaction from the steps of the Capitol...
Friday, Apr 25 at 6:09 PM Maria Cieslewski wrote ...
(cont...) This is not fair, as Title IX was created originally to benefit female athletes and give them the chance to become varsity athletes. Title IX should not be used as a means to cut men's varsity sports teams.
Flag for moderationFriday, Apr 25 at 6:09 PM Maria Cieslewski wrote ...
As far as the men's swimming and diving team goes, the only reason they were cut was for compliance with Title IX. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Title IX, it basically states that the ratio of women to men enrolled in the university must be the same with athletes on the varsity sports teams. They are not making any money (only a few thousand dollars) off of cutting men's swimming and diving, they just needed to cut 26 (or so) men's spots so that the ratios would be correct. (cont...)
Flag for moderationThursday, Apr 24 at 11:43 AM Timothy Brosnan wrote ...
URI has a history of uneven funding within the sports program. Whereas the Football (with a terrible win record) and Basketball (mediocore performance at best)programs have received new facilities and new uniforms. The Championship winning Men's Outdoor Track team has used the same uniforms for years and have been completely without a usable track for over a decade. The Men's Cross Country program suffers a similiar fate including having a coach specilized in short distance and hurdle racing.
Flag for moderationWednesday, Apr 23 at 11:47 PM Bob W wrote ...
What a foolish decision. The school isnt really saving money. The swim team cut was 25k and the parents and friends offered to pay for the cost but the school has refused to listen.
Flag for moderationWednesday, Apr 23 at 10:35 PM Mike Regan wrote ...
This is why the USA is starting to become a joke. It is ok to screw hardworking college students... the future of this country but waste money on all kinds of other garbage. One day people will realize how important education is. I hope it won't be too late. The athletic director could have had the decency to inform these kids of this decision while they had a chance to find other schools that would allow them to participate elsewhere. I am sure the state could save some money if they can him.
Flag for moderationWednesday, Apr 23 at 1:25 PM Tom Colacioppo wrote ...
I have a nephew has worked hard both academically and physically to become part of the RI swim team. How in good conscience can the university cut these programs without allowing the students the time needed to find alternate financial support or universities to transfer to. Studies show that students in these areas of athletics tend to perform at a high academic level than those of the more popular sports such as football and basketball. What message is the university sending by their action
Flag for moderationWednesday, Apr 23 at 10:33 AM Mark Cola wrote ...
The state and the athletic director (Thorr Bjorn) really blew it. At the very least they could have let these kids know about this while they still had a chance to find other schools to transfer to. To make this kind of decision at this stage is reckless.
Flag for moderationWednesday, Apr 23 at 10:30 AM Libby Segal wrote ...
As a member of the URI Field Hockey team, I am devastated by the school's decision to cut our team as well as the two men's teams and the gymnastics teams. We came to the school to play our sport, and now they take that away, leaving us heartbroken.
Flag for moderationWednesday, Apr 23 at 10:26 AM Anonymous wrote ...
Instead of knocking off a bunch of sports completely, they could just fire the basketball coach and make back most of that missing $800k.
Flag for moderationWednesday, Apr 23 at 10:22 AM Roseann Sagginario wrote ...
My son is a proud and dedicated swimmer for URI, the lost of this program as well as the 3 other teams are devasting to the student athletes and their families. We are hopeful that this decision we be overturn so they can continue their education and sport at URI instead of being forced to transfer or give up their sport.
Flag for moderationWednesday, Apr 23 at 9:44 AM E. Cieslewski wrote ...
I am an out of state parent...paying out of state tuition with no athletic scholarship. We need to remember that college education is multidimensional. A well rounded education is not all about the lecture halls. I am proud to be a parent of a 4-year varsity swimmer. Sports helped my daughter to focus and manage her time. RI's government should take a look at how these "little" cuts will impact the future of URI sports. What will happen down the road when more sports and programs are cut?
Flag for moderationWednesday, Apr 23 at 6:03 AM Tom Cieslewski wrote ...
My sister is a PROUD STUDENT OF URI. She has been on the team for 4 years it is the only way she got thou without transferring. What about the kid who are coming next year? What are they going to do if they go and are not able to swim or do some other sport.Maybe thats the only reason they went to URI. So maybe you should just take a little money out of each teams budget which would make a lot more sense.
Flag for moderationTuesday, Apr 22 at 11:07 PM Amy Ennis wrote ...
As a parent of a student/athlete at the University of Rhode Island and a member of the swim team family, I am proud of the stand that all athletes involved are taking. They are standing up for what they know is right and I hope that others will see how important all student/athletes are to the University of Rhode Island.
Flag for moderationTuesday, Apr 22 at 9:39 PM Erika Sloan wrote ...
As a member of the gymnastics team, I completely understand what my fellow student athletes are going through right now. It's not fair to those of us that represent this school proudly - we are suffering financial consequences that are out of our control. The gymnastics team is in the process of gathering funds and donations in an attempt to at least remain a club sport at the university. I hope other teams will follow and not let this be the end of some great teams here at URI.
Flag for moderationTuesday, Apr 22 at 8:41 PM Meghan Walsh wrote ...
I am a member of the URI Field Hockey team, and this decision has not only broken the hearts of all my teammates, but of all athletes at URI. We are being told that we can not participate in something that we have dedicated our whole lives to. We need to come together as a university and find ways to raise this money instead of punishing student-athletes.
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