Questions and Comments We've Received

June 2, 2003

Being an alumni from Tulane and a former athlete in 2 sports at Tulane, I find it hard to believe that we come to this point in time that we need to THINK about in what type of division in athletics we should be after spending all that money fixing and making new facilities and getting the best possible coaches to reach were we are at this point! I think we need to give a chance for the future! I didnât attend Tulane because I had a full scholarship, I attend Tulane because is a great school and it is a division 1 school! I had plenty of other offers even though the facilities at that time were not the greatest but you learn to live with it and I did and I do contribute to the athletics whenever I choose to, but I am sad to say you will be making a big mistake by changing to other division. I believe nothing is impossible in this life is all about working hard to get it! Good Luck!!!!!

*****

Please forward to all appropriate parties my name as part of a list of alumni that wish to see TU remain a full Division I school.

My bond was relatively tenuous before I began attending football games and other athletic events with other Mississippi Gulf Coast alumni. My feelings for the school grew and I began to donate more money to the GF, Freeman School and TAF. Given the focus on the athletic department as a sole unit, I have chosen to donate exclusively to the TAF this year. The Board's actions will help to determine all future donation allocations.

As a business school graduate and economist, I am very disturbed that the focus has been solely on direct revenue versus expenses. My instructors at Tulane were careful to teach me that all activities have indirect benefits and costs. It is highly inappropriate for the Board to ignore those in its decision making. I'm not saying the picture would have to be better, but I believe making a decision with few of the facts when all of the facts could be determined after a complete analysis of the situation is a violation of the Board's fiduciary and academic duty. I would suggest that we table the discussion / vote until such an economic impact study can be performed. If the athletic program is shown to be a egregious drag on the university as a whole, then by all means present the information and consider making a change that would better our university. I would support this type of decision whole-heartedly.

*****

I am not a fan of Tulane's overemphasis on intercollegiate athletics. I was embarrassed, when I went there from 1972 through 1976, that most of the athletes were there solely to strengthen the athletic program and were so below par academically with the rest of the student body. Most wouldn't have had a chance to get in on the basis of their academic records. Plainly speaking, there were lots of dumb jocks, football players especially. I also remember animosity between the students and jocks that came awfully close to getting physical several times. Oh for the good ole days, burning down the ROTC building, streaking...

I suppose alumni like to see their alma mater featured on the sports pages or on tv but I don't think it serves the university well to have such a big gap in the academic capabilities of athletes and regular students. Paying for an athletic program makes no sense to me just so alumni and others can have bragging rights. Or is it rites?

What would Tulane be like without intercollegiate athletics? It might be a school regarded for its intellectual achievements rather than the latest standings in the sports polls. I would prefer that intercollegiate athletics were de-emphasized and the focus remain on academics. Perhaps shut it down. An intramural athletic program would be fine. Those sports that can raise the money on their own to be able to play other colleges, great. Perhaps wealthy alumni would support that. I just hate to see it be such a major part of the university.

We were never very good at it anyway.

Go to hell LSU...

*****

I write to urge that the University de-escalate its longstanding and hugely draining commitment to intercollegiate athletics. In lodging this opinion, I think that several aspects of my background may help to put my views in some perspective. So, by way of background:

1. As an undergraduate I was deeply involved in a wide range of Tulane activities. These included serving as Vice President of the Tulane University Student Government, chair of the Pan-Hellenic Council, chair of the University Honor Council (responsible for administering the honor code), recipient of several university awards, and membership in an array of honoraries. The point is that I was then, and I continue to be now, a loyal and enthusiastic supporter of the University.

2. Following brief duty in the US Army Reserve (having been commisioned through Army ROTC) and Harvard Law School (JD '63), I returned to Tulane, as the Assistant Director of Admissions.

3. While attending and working at Tulane I was, and continue to be, a sports enthusiast, particularly intercollegiate athletics (as well as major league baseball). Both of my daughters competed in intercollegiate athletics (albeit at Division III level). So, notwithstanding the obvious excesses in contemporary professional sports and throughout much of NCAA Division I athletics, I count myself, as stated, as a sports ethusiast.

Having briefly established something of my Tulane background, let me move to my observations over the past several decades. My principal vantage point has been as a close observer of higher education governance and finance. Following my work at Tulane and subsequent staff work in Congress (1967-70), my professional career has been devoted to higher education, divided between university administration (Assistant to the Chancellor, University of California, Berkeley, 1970-77) and as a university teacher and scholar. Since 1977 I have been Professor of Education and Public Policy at Claremont Graduate University, one of the seven independent Claremont Colleges in Claremont, CA. For these past 26 years I have directed our graduate program in the study of higher education. It is, therefore, as a student of, and frequent author about, the serious challenges to higher education that I have come to the conclusion, not without regret, that Tulane must sharply reduce its commitment to intercollegiate athletics.

The net outflow of funds over these past decades of competing in Division I has been many millions of dollars. The occasional successes have failed to yield substantial results, either in donations that benefit the University generally or in significantly greater applications for admission. Year after year, Tulane has strived to improve its athletic competitiveness, while expanding its academic reputation. The athletic successes have been elusive. And while there is no direct correspondance with that uneven athletic record and the University's overall academic standing, I have watched my university, over these decades, fade from having been widely regarded as a peer among the other great Southern independent universities (Duke, Emory and Vanderbilt) to a university whose endowment has been substantially eclipsed by those others. Stopping, or significantly reducing, the financial hemorraging attributable to intercollegiate athletics would not automatically translate into improved academic standing, but I believe that in time, as Tulane's priorities were made ever more clear, that very positive results would develop..

Over the years I have learned much from Peter Drucker, my colleague at Claremont Graduate University. Perhaps most importantly (and relevantly for present purposes) he has persistently challenged the worlds of not-for-profits (including higher education) and for-profit corporations alike to be clear about the most fundamental of management principles: understanding jsut what business are you in. I think that an honest answer to that question would oblige the University to make a painful break with its long athletic tradition and to take the courageous step to make a significant change. I applaud President Cowan and the Board of Trustees for its direct and honest examination of this complex issue, and I wish for the University all success in grappling with an uncertain future.

*****

In response to the post which stated that the scholarship athletes are elitist and have separate classes and dorms and perhaps are academically unqualified, I have to disagree. Over my years at Tulane I had classes with athletes and non-athletes and honestly the athletes were much more likely to attend class on a frequent basis as compared to regular students. In addition the baseball team has a team GPA above a 3.0 and Tulane had 92 Conference USA academic award winners. That hardly sounds like unqualified students.

With regards to the contention that intermurals are just as fun and encourage more participation, I'll agree that intermurals are fun, but they are not the same thing as high level college athletics. Many people who are not athletically inclined enjoy watching football, baseball, and basketball among other sports. Just because not everyone can play collegiate athletics does not make them worthless. Athletics are a connection that alumni have to their university. Tulane is certainly not going to make it into the pages of national newspapers by cutting sports to fund a better library. A much more productive solution would be for the administration to work harder to make the university endowment grow as opposed to cutting sports for a short term benefit. Despite contentions that those alumni don't matter, it is statistically proven that alumni who are sports fans tend to donate to their schools disproportionally.

As an alum now I must say that if the poster's daughters did not even consider Tulane as a school where they could get a quality education and have a good time, then that is the fault of their parents, not Tulane. Academics are important, but while learning is the main purpose of college not all learning is done in the classroom or the library. A road trip with classmates to go watch Tulane play football made me (like many before me) feel much more connected to my school than my classroom experience ever did. It's meeting the alumni and knowing that there are so many of us nationally that help keep our school great. Down grading to Division III or cutting football will prevent the national recognition that Tulane currently has. It's that national recognition that draws great students to Tulane. Doing away with Division 1A sports will lessen Tulane's national prestige, and that won't make the school any better. Drawing the best and the brightest requires good PR, and much of our good PR comes from sports.

ROLL WAVE ROLL!

*****

To whom it may concern,

I strongly recommend staying in Division I. It gives Tulane much needed publicity.

*****

Academic excellence is what makes Tulane great... not sports.

I graduated from Tulane Law School in 2000 and had the chance to enjoy our successful 1998 season. However, fun as it was, I always felt and still feel that Tulane University needs to focus on academics. Tulane's football games in the Superdome will never give students a feeling of nostalgia towards the school (I can say this because I attended most of them and have fonder memories of Audubon Park than the echoing sound 7,000 fans cheering for the University of Houston to beat Tulane.) The stadium is just too big and the team too uncompetitive to make a difference. Students apply to Tulane because of its reputation as one of the better schools in the country and the endowment would be better spent on continuing to improve our presence as force in academia not a force in the NCAA.

*****

As an Alum (A&S'65) and former varsity athlete (Tennis), I strongly suggest that the Committee(s) consider continuing in Div I on all sports. There is no reason why TU cannot afford to contiue, whether in Conf USA or otherwise. Certainly no decision should be made without more alumni feedback. However, if you really do not care about alumni because we do not contribute as much as the federal govt. and other segments, I feel regret.

*****

I was fortunate to have the great John Oelkers as a track coach in the late 60's. My brother had an outstanding track career, while mine was very limited but enjoyable. My own feelings are conflicted, partly because of the decline in men's "minor" sports that I have observed over the years. From reading the transcripts, I sense that there are roughly two models that are worthy of emulation. I would call them the Stanford model and the Washington University model. Certainly there is the middle ground, but these two schools have succeeded in their respective paths. Right now we are more of a Stanford than a Wash U., and I do not know which direction is more costly and more likely to produce sustainable results. Having just seen the results of money working on the basketball merry-go-round, I have to say that my personal view is to concentrate on the academic future. This day has been coming ever since we left the Sugar Bowl.

*****

Changing the status of Tulane's athletics is not only a question of money, facilities, and competitiveness with other scholastic institutions; it is also a matter or notoriety, and national presence. It is given that Tulane as a school does not have the best Football programme in the nation, however, eliminating it will inevitably cause a negative reaction for future students when considering their colleges of choice. I present you with the following, for consideration.

National notoriety in many of the top American universities depends not only on scholastic achievement but also on the achieving of the University's Sports teams. Take the example of UCLA, whoís basketball team can often be regarded as one of the best in the nation, and yet the school is a highly acclaimed higher learning institution. Similarly one can attribute the same train of thought to the Ivy Schools that all have and maintain D1 football teams. The question here is do we want to leave that exclusive club of top universities with football teams, in hopes that our scholastic achievements will cover the schools national and international acclaim? Idealistically it would be nice; realistically however, it is a long shot.

And is it also not true that a recent Tulane graduate managed to gain acclaim in the NFL, and is now the proud owner of a Super Bowl Ring?

Now without programmes such as these, meaning Division 1 sports, Tulane will forego any such possibility of having itís athletes become that of a world class scale. Do we want that? I think not! I along, with my other Tulanians are proud of the schools sports heritage, where we can look back and reminisce Tulane being twelfth in the nation, and now we come to a crossroad where we are juxtaposed with two decisive questions. Do we want to disallow future alumni such pleasantries? Or do we want to continue on the proud road that Tulane Athletics has paved for itself and its athletes. I for one believe the answer to be simple. Keep Division 1 athletics and allow for future generations of Tulanians to shine both athletically and academically.

*****

I have spent time each day since this feedback page was established reading the responses sent. Amazing, simply amazing....

You allowed the alumni, students, parents, community to respond. If you did not want to know-you should not have asked! Without a doubt the support for Tulane and its athletic programs is overwhelming. Now is the time for absolute, positive reaction to the direction you have been given.

The time to build on this momentum is now. Use this as a platform to steer Tulane Athletics in the most profitable direction. Realize that the exposure that athletics lends the university is beneficial to all areas of the university, in that students come not only for academics offered, but for the whole package.

Make changes now. Move football to the smaller stadium-that was so much fun this year! Oklahoma State built around their basketball arena-up-to keep it on campus-and the traditions intact-Tulane could do something like that also. Practice soccer occasionally out in front of the student center where people can watch. Recruit students from areas closer to New Orleans-what only 6% from Texas???!!!! ASK for SUPPORT! GO AFTER THE MONEY! You have the MOMENTUM, the time is NOW! Thank you.

*****

I went to Tulane for an education and got a pretty darn good one. I don't remember one single year where out football team was spectacular or produced first round NFL draft picks. I think that inter collegiate athletics is important, but Tulane will never have the following that LSU, or UTA, or Colorado University for that matter. We should focus limited funds on what college is truly about, and that is education. I am not saying scrap everything, just live within a budget just like I have to do.

*****

Patrick Ramsey and Sean King are almong those who are shining examples of why we should not switch to a lower division.

*****

If Tulane can't afford to keep football scholarships, I hope the university maintains both Division I membership and a football team. An Ivy League-style nonscholarship team would provide a great atmosphere at Gormley Stadium and would keep students involved on weekends.

Drake University, which already has a Division I nonscholarship team, examined football as part of a program review three years ago. The university determined, "eliminating football would have a negative effect on the University's overall gender balance, student recruitment, diversity, tuition revenue, and alumni and community support."

Please don't become a victim of a "big time or nothing" mentality. There's something missing at one-third of Division I universities. Football--even at the nonscholarship level--is a worthwhile part of the college experience.

Green Wave football is worth keeping. Tulane doesn't need any more Notre Dame or Syracuse fans.

*****

Tulane must keep its Division 1 status. I was accepted to academically higher ranking colleges, but I chose Tulane because it offers a complete college experience. I was unhappy at Tulane until my sophmore year when I attended my first Greenwave game. The school spirit and comraderie I experienced cheering for Tulane Baseball played a large part in my decision to stay at Tulane and not transfer schools. I think we should focus on promoting athletic events not demoting them. Instead of getting rid of Division 1 Athletics, I propose we get rid of Scott Cowan.

*****

I do not know where the thought came from that dropping from division 1A is a good idea. Tulane has and will always be a premier university both academically and athletically. Anyone involved with the athletic program knows how well Tulane has performed. As much as some people would like to think, we are not an Ivy league school. We should be the Notre Dame of the south. Look at the gains and the upgrade of the facilities since 1983. The progress is amazing. People and boards tend to look only at the cost of the athletic programs without considering the benefits to the university and the community. Anyone who has attended Tulane knows the benefits of a quality education.

It will ultimately cost more to drop to a lower division because of the prestige which will be lost by the University. We are a well rounded university because we have premier academics and athletics. Could it possibly be that the University has priced itself out of the market as far as tuition is concerned. When I attended Tulane the Tuition was $6,000 per year, and I considered that high. Now it is probably about $32,000.00 per year. That is what concerns me more than what to do about athletics. If people can't afford to attend a University, something needs to be done to adjust the cost. Think about it. Did any of you have a $60,000 to $90,000 debt when you graduated from college. Have costs increased that much from 1983 to justify such a substantial increase. Help me understand what the increased tuition is paying for.

*****

It is important for our identity as a University that we remain at Division I-A, if possible entertaining moving to a BCS conference that would assist in our financial woes. Our graduation rate of our student athletes is bound to impress many such conferences.

*****

As a long time football season ticket holder and member of the TAF, I strongly support and encourage the Tulane Board of Trustees to continue their commitment to allow Tulane University to remain a participant in the Division 1-A intercollegiate athletics program. I have today renewed my TAF and season ticket subscription and indicated my pledge to continue my commitment at the same level over the next five years.

*****

I am a recent alumni of Tulane University (Newcomb College) and I feel that it is imperative that Tulane remain in Division 1A. Without football and chances to play on ESPN (which only Division 1 schools frequently receive) the identity of Tulane could quickly turn from great university located in New Orleans to also ran. The quality of a university is often determined by its athletic prowess. Tulane was able to be more selective of students after the perfect season because the applicant pool got bigger. Athletics help market the school and in turn draw better students to the school. The WAVE needs to stay Div1A because the school belongs to the students and the alumni not the board, and this is what we (your donors and tuition payers) want. It's a simple business principle that if you keep your customer happy they will come back. In this case keep your alumni and students happy and donations will continue. Make us unhappy and watch that money disappear.

*****

We need to keep athletics ..I know it is a costly undertaking but this is one way to keep your alumni enthused about their school.If you are planning to go from Division 1 to alower conference level you are kidding yourselves. I donot think you are saving money by reducing the number of scholarships. I think you will lose dollars from your out of town alumni. Example: I am from Tampa,fl and several years ago University of Tampa gave up their football program(to save money on scholarships). It took several years for them to get in the black and I know they lost several supporters. I hope you can keep the programs.

*****

Stop trying to turn Tulane into an east coast elitist school. We are located in the south. Football is king here. Keep Tulane division 1A. ROLL WAVE ROLL

Reevaluate the board! Save the Wave!

*****

Keep Tulane Division 1A.

Roll Wave!

*****

I am in the marketing business. We are in the Experience Economy, in that a school needs to provide more than education. It needs to provide an experience. Moving football off campus has really hurt the Saturday game "experience" for the student. Tulane should consider following SMU's path to return football to the campus if possible, in the form of a 25,000 person stadium. Should Tulane kill football, the football tradition will end, reducing the student's college experience. As an alum of Tulane, the only branding we see to keep up with the school comes from the football program. Tulane is presently embarked on an aggressive alumnae campaign. To halt football would further reduce any possibility to ignite the alum campaign.

*****

My concern is whether this crunch is the result of Title IX, less interest in football, less alumni support for sports, or something else. Is there any "final" straw that has caused this re-evaluation?

*****

Ever since I was a Freshman in 1989, it was apparent to me that Tulane needs to put the foot on the accelerator with regard to athletics and scholarship numbers or give up the attempt to compete in I-A.

Above all, Tulane is an academic university; however, Tulane needs to pick a sport to be the best at and focus there. Duke's basketball team and Stanford's baseball team are examples of what should be done.

I think we can compete in I-A football with more support and recruitment. Nonetheless, we need to emphasize something, whether it be baseball, football, or basketball to keep the nation's eye's on us. We are not a small college. We could play I-A football, but we need to go all out or drop.

*****

Dear Tulane community,

While I agree that academics should remain the emphasis of the greater Tulane community, I feel strongly that Tulane should remain a Division I member of the NCAA. I hold this opinion as a former Dean's Honor Scholar and current medical school faculty member, and I offer those as evidence of my commitment to and understanding of the importance of excellence in academics. However, athletics remains one of the mainstays for remaining a prominent educational institution in the United States and clearly serves as a rallying focus for alumni. Please honor the long Tulane tradition of striving for excellence both on and off the field!

*****

I hope that Tulane athletics remain as it is. Tulane has a great tradition in athletics, and sports should not be given up on.

*****

During the 60's when I attended Tulane, the football program was eminently forgettable, but it was still on campus. That made it easy for students to attend the games. It was a part of the fall campus social life. I have no concept of how it is now.

Tulane without football would seem strange. There have been peaks, notably the "Perfect Season" Liberty Bowl, which I was able to attend with my son. That said, Division I is expensive and seriously affects Title IX issues. In Kansas, we see the problems with attempting to have successful (and profitable) football and basketball programs at Kansas and Kansas State. It is very difficult to say the least to attract the coaching required to sustain a program.

One question, which may be difficult to answer, is would Tulane remain prominent among potential regional students without a decent football team. Athletics was not a factor in my attendance, but seemed to be of greater importance to the "locals." It is apparent, however, local alums have not supported the program by a lack of season ticket sales, but success means sales in the sports world. A venue adjacent to the campus might improve attendance.

I would rather see a downgrading of the program rather than its demise. But, sound economics are the guiding issue.

*****

I believe Tulane should remain in Division 1. Tulane is truly a great school and the many sports programs that it offers allow the school to continue to be a quality school. My daughter is becoming a sophomore and I believe offering a well rounded program is important.

*****

You should stay Division I and definitely keep the football program. You will do a tremendous disservice to the University if you drop this vital program, which helps attract quality students to the University.

*****

I am putting this in a letter to Rick Dickson, but I will repeat it here. I will pledge to join TAF at the $250 level for the next five years if Tulane commits to Div. 1 athletics for the same period. I have not intention of making that financial commitment independent of Tulane's commitment.

*****

Tulane will never be a big time sports contender and I don't care. I voted to get rid of football back in the 70's. The scholarship athletes have always been elitist and separated from the student body. I suspect they are academically less qualified. Separate dorms, separate meals, separate classes. They are at Tulane for sports first. Take away their scholarships and most will leave. Fine with me. Intramurals are much more participatory and just as much fun. I doubt the chant that alumni live for sports - I consider them a waste. The academic reputation of Tulane is what is meaningful to a professional later in life. Tulane already suffers from a reputation of being a party school with mediocre academics. My daughters didn't even consider Tulane.

*****

We should remain Division I period. To drop to a lower athletic division would be the same as lower our academic standards for enrollment. We (Tulane) consistently produce quality athletic teams and graduate athletes far above the national and state average.

If the advisory board's recommendation is to drop to a lower division of athletic competition, then perhaps, they should also recommend that we begin to accept students at the same academic level of the public universities and colleges across the state of Louisiana or at least equivalent to those schools in whatever lower division they wish for us to compete athletically in.

I felt certain that once Eamon Kelly left the office of the Presidency the discussion over the death of Tulane Athletics would end; however, I am sorry to realize it continues.

During my years at Tulane, the school turned down several million dollars in contributions from John "Hot Rod" Williams, because he was "an embarassment" which led to the death of Tulane basketball. The rebirth of the sport has brought glory and pride back to the school. If the athletics department has been in such financial disarray, why turn down any contribution? Yes, we have standards, but no one stopped to consider that maybe, just maybe, he was trying to correct a mistake he made while in college.

*****

None of the teams even play on campus anymore! The interaction between the players, the team, and the student body is almost non-existent. It felt like I was going to go see a pro team because of the huge geographical disconnect.

*****

Tulane is an educational institution. The abysmal attendance at football games reflects student and alumni indifference to that program. My preference is that it offer no athletic scholarships and that it scale down its intercollegiate athletics appropriately. Intramural athletics should be encouraged to promote a healthy lifestyle.

*****

As a former women's basketball player at Tulane, I feel it is very important to maintain the Division 1-A status. I gained an incredible amount of experience, knowledge and personal strength by competing at a 1-A level as well as balancing the completion of my degree in Biomedical Engineering.

I learned to be organized, manage my time, work as a team, handle adversity, cooperation, leadership and communication.

My experience as a collegiate athlete at Tulane helped me become a more successful person and a leader.

I feel Tulane would lose a great number of well-qualified incoming Freshman student-athletes if the 1-A program is discontinued. For myself, Tulane provided the high-quality education I was seeking, with a strong, athletic program (most of the schools I visited as a High School Senior were high on Academic Strength, but had very weak athletic programs), I wanted to be challenged in both arenas. I am afraid that without the Division 1-A status to offer to incoming student-athletes, Tulane will lose a great number of highly-qualified, incoming freshman, who would add to the academic strength of Tulane University.

I hope you will consider my input and vote to maintain the Division 1-A status of Tulane Athletics.

*****

The athletic division is immaterial. What should be stopped is athletic scholarships. If athletes need to be paid, let them go professional. If they are, in fact, as brilliant as the athletic department says they are, then they should be able to obtain scholastic scholarships. After that, the athletic division is immaterial. I don't believe anyone says to remain Division I, you need to offer a specific number of scholarships.

By the Way, this comment is from a student athlete who also worked full time.

*****

Stay Div 1-a.You've achieved a great balance of academic excellence and athletic achievement in many sports.We just need to find a way to boost attendance.

*****

I understand that the Board is set to decide the fate of Tulane Athletics in the near term. Let me preface my comments by saying that I and others in my immediate family are proud members of the larger "Tulane family" (I have degrees from A&S and the Law School, as do my father and brother, while my two sisters and mother are graduates of Newcomb College). To my knowledge, each of my immediate family members donates money (and some have in the past also donated their time) to the University, and some of us also donate money to the Athletics Department.

While our athletic accomplishments may not be as many in number as many of us wish they were, the athletics department is nonetheless a source of immense pride for the University because "we do it right" in an era when many other universities cannot make the same claim. Simply put, when commentators speak glowingly of Tulane's graduation rate and "true scholar athletes," it not only refects positively on the school, it also constitutes an invaluable source of advertising for the school as a whole.

I cannot fathom "Tulane University" without Division 1 sports. If, as Dr. Cowen has said publicly, Tulane's future may not include Division 1 sports, then neither I nor the other members of my immediate family will recognize such a "future school" as anything that remotely resembles the Tulane we currently know and love. That, of course, translates into very little desire to support what, in effect, will be just another school that we did not attend.

In the world with which I am familiar, "landscape altering," "unprecedented," and "unpopular" decisions (such as the one currently under study) are made only when 1) they are absolutely necessary (because to do nothing would be life threatening), and 2) they are unanimously supported by the governing body (because once a drastic change is made, THERE IS NO GOING BACK FOR A MULLIGAN). Here, however, there is no "absolute necessity," and there is nothing close to unanimity among the Board.

To the extent this is about "money," the athletic department deficit is a pittance of the school's budget and, based on Rick Dickson's track record, my bet is that the deficit is dwindling and will continue to dwindle. To the extent this is about "image," I (and my money/support) am not the least bit interested in associating with a school that perceives itself to be a martyr or a Brandeis "want to be." Tulane already enjoys a tremendous reputation, and a large component of that reputation derives from the fact that it is a "full service" school that offers "the best" in EVERY endeavor ( we don't have a D3 architecture school do we?).

One last point on the "image" issue. Tulane is the largest employer in the City (if not the State). Tulane also receives numerous tax exemptions from the City and State. Doesn't an entity with that profile and privilege owe it to the City and State to maintain the $42 million ANNUAL economic stream that the athletics department generates for the City and State. If the answer to that question is "no," then the lasting "image" of Tulane in my mind will be that of the arrogant and selfish "taker" that is not prepared "to give back."

For these reasons, and many more, I implore the Board to keep Tulane Athletics at Divsion 1 in EVERY sport, and to renew its committment to making the Athletics Department the very best it can be.

*****

Maybe it is the press coverage but the tone that the Ad Hoc Committee has depicted as displaying is totally negative. This board is made up of some very successful business men who have been successful in there professional endeavors. I don't think they were successful by cutting the very heart out of their businesses. Tulane owes a great deal to the athletic department and their outstanding student athletes and teams. Tulane name recognition owes a great deal to athletics. The athletic department appears to have an achievable plan established to meet goals in order to remain Division I across the board. The Board however, doesn't seem to offer solutions that will enable Tulane to meet their goals not only in athletics but from the recent newspaper article across the board in all the academic departments. There needs to be some positive leadership displayed that focuses on continuing in Division I across the board and providing positive solutions for growth. I believe Rick Dickson has given a blue print that should be allowed to bloom. Let's not make the same mistake as 1966 that took us out of the SEC.

*****

I want to keep Tulane University as a Division 1-A school. Thank you.

*****

I graduated from Tulane Law in May, 2001. I would like to see Tulane remain in Division I athletics.

*****

I graduated from Tulane in 1998 and have fond memories of going to the football game at the super dome. I also enjoyed the basketball games immensely. I think it would be a huge mistake to revert to Div. III or Div. II status. From an alumni support standpoint it would be a catastrophe. Tulane already has one of the lowest endowments out of all the Div. I colleges. By removing sports you would eliminate the remaining sliver of incentive to contribute to Tulane. There has to be other ways to save money. I feel it would be a colossal blunder to take away Div. I sports at Tulane.

*****

It is absolutely pertinent that Tulane retains its Division I NCAA status. It is quite understandable that Tulane should constantly reassess its goals and priorities; however, this type of drastic cutback seems severely unnecessary. As we all know, the investment that Tulane makes to the athletics department results in donations from ex-athlete alums, increased exposure/public relations, and the recruitment of qualified students looking for a well-rounded institution. Furthermore, athletics - specifically football -offer a healthy distraction to Tulane's challenging curriculum, and give younger students an opportunity to immerse themselves in the Tulane community.

Consequently, I find it disappointing to see this committee questioning the importance of its football program, and rather disheartening for those who may not have the chance to experience it. I'd hate to see the loss of alumni contributions and a dejected sentiment from alums and future graduates.

Thank you for this opportunity to respond.

*****

I recognize that some colleges are inclined to place academics second to athletics, which makes it more difficult to compete. However, as a graduate of the US Military Academy and a graduate of Tulane Law School, I believe it is possible to have a respectable balance. There will be struggles on the athletic field, but I believe there is a benefit to maintaining a reputable sports program. It keeps to school in the media and attracts quality students to the school. Also, a down-grading of the level of the program would only be considered a mid-level stage to a complete dismantlement of the program. Therefore, I am opposed to completely eliminating and/or down-grading the level of the athletics at Tulane.

*****

We pay enough money to go here, maybe you should focus on strengthening the athletic program...I think it would be a shame to eliminate it entirely.

*****

I believe that title 9 has had such a negative impact on all marginal athletic programs that the football players in those programs are used as fodder for the highly successful programs just for the sake of a good payday. Just check out all of the 1-A schools in Louisiana. Even McNeese of 1-AA has had to play Miami and Nebraska the last 2 years for the payday.

The logical thing would be to remove football as one of the sports counted under title 9, but that won't happen.

The next thing is to keep football, baseball and basketball and drop the other 11 men's sports.

I make that suggestion without having access to the exact figures for each of the sports presently being funded at Tulane.

*****

Find a way to keep athletics in Division 1!

*****

PLEASE keep Tulane an active participant in Division I athletics. I believe that sporting activities are an integral part of the college experience which continues years after graduation. Tulane has a reputation of fine scholars becoming even finer athletes. Just look at Dennis O'Sullivan, Jerald Sowell, and Shaun King!!!! Please keep this tradition alive for athletes and the thousands of fans.

*****

I am in favor of downgrading the intercollegiate athletic programs at Tulane. I believe that there is always a danger of these programs getting out of control, especially with overenthusiastic alumni boosters. Athletics should contribute to the lives of the students at Tulane, in accordance with the ideal of "a sound mind in a sound body". Therefore, I recommend a great upgrading of resources and facilities for intramural sports on campus. Athletics should not be viewed as a money-raising venture or as a promotional tool for the university. Instead, an improvement of the quality of the educational programs at Tulane would promote the school - witness all of the top-ranked universities whose reputations rest on academics, not on athletics.

Do not let the athletic tail wag the academic dog.

*****

Keep Tulane in Division (1) Athletics. It is good for the school, good for the student body, good for alumni, and good for the fans. Tulane Athletics is the most visible face of the university to the public.

*****

I remember the first time I met you after you began your tenure at Tulane. At the Tulane Business Forum in October of 1998, in your introductory remarks, you jokingly took credit for Tulane's success on the football field. My, how times have changed!

As a child I attended Tulane football games with my parents, both of whom attended Tulane. When it time to choose a college, there was only one place I applied, and it was NEWCOMB (not Tulane, no matter what your "rebranding" specialists tell you). And the primary reason for that choice was the wonderful way my parents spoke of their experiences and the great friends they had made. The education was superior, but it also offered so much more of the college atmosphere I wanted to experience. I grew up with Tulane football, and had Tulane eliminated its athletic program before I attended, I would not have chosen it.

Now my husband and I (who is also a Tulane graduate) bring our children with us to Tulane athletic events. Trust me, if you had to ask them where they wanted to attend college, there would be only one answer. This is their introduction to the Tulane family, and they have met so many wonderful people. Without Tulane athletics at its current level you will lose a new generation of Tulanians who will never be able to experience what we did. Of course our education was important, but if you polled my classmates I can promise you one of the highlights on everyone's list would be beating LSU in 1979. And 1981. And 1982.

Bill and I are among the thousands of alumni who strongly believe that the athletic programs need to be maintained at a Division 1 level. For the sake of the next generation of Tulanians!

*****

Dear Tulane Administration:

As a former four year letterman and scholarship athlete in track from 1972-1976, I am concerned that Tulane is willing to give up its status as a Division I academic institution with good, sometimes great athletics. I am never ashamed of Tulane teams that get beat providing they appear to be well coached and show a great deal of effort. However, there have been times over the past 25 or so years that the individuals that represent Tulane on the field or on the court have not been explemplary student athletes. This is the athletic issue thatt should be addressed.

My plea to Administration is to use good judgment on the hiring of its coaches, to be careful screening of the scholarships that are given out and to control the operating budget for all athletic programs so that Tulane sports can continue at the Division I level. This may mean that many of the smaller sport teams for both men and women may have to have their scholarships reduced or even eliminated. So be it. It is far better to set the standards high than to water them down for everyone. I would hate to see the same dimenished standards set for the academic side of the University!

This issue should not revolve around the number of season tickets sold, but rather on the Vision for Tulane University and the students it attracts.

Please feel free to contact me if there is anything other than money with which I can help.

*****

To the board:

I am vehemently in favor of continuing as a Division 1 athletic school. If the board's decision is to move the athletic program to anything less than Division I , quite frankly I feel this decision would be extremely detrimental to the University in the long run.

Tulane has a rich history in athletic competition and has seen by the national exposure the university has enjoyed in the last several years. Can we all remember the 12-0 football season in 1998, Tulane beating LSU to play in the College World Series in 2001, and the Hawaii Bowl victory in 2002. All of these events gave the university national television exposure.

I plan on supporting the TAF financially, but if a decision is made to change the athletic program status to anything less than Division 1, I will cease supporting the athletic program and more importantly the university in any future contributions. It is also important to note, just the fact that there is discussion about this issue makes me feel "let down" by the University's board.

By not being a Division 1 athletic school, quite frankly Tulane will become a second rate school in my mind. To imagine in the future that both my son and daughter would not have the same opportunities at Tulane University is quite disappointing and extremely unsatisfactory to say the least.

*****

Athletics can be an important part of the college experience. BUT, athletics in a university such as Tulane cannot come at the expense of academics. Clearly Tulane's heritage is EXCELLENCE in academics. We have a rich, but not outstanding athletic heritage. Athletics may help gain attention for the university, but at Tulane, we've always received mixed reviews. Football tends to gather the most attention inside and outside the university, but most often our football team has not attracted positive attention. Of course, I did attend every football game during my four years at Tulane, even though we moved to the Superdome at that time. I did not attend any basketball, baseball, tennis, or other athletic events in that time, even though we had FAR better records in all of those sports. Over the years, these programs have brought in some fame to Tulane, and a few students. Since Tulane's forte is academics, and not athletics, we should field teams of STUDENT-ATHLETES. These are athletes who take the academic workload seriously, and have respectable grades in respectable fields of study. I now live in Vermont. The University of Vermont has very few athletic scholarships, yet many of the athletic programs have excellent records, including the first men's basketball team this year to make the NCAA tournament in the school's history, and the women's basketball team was there last year. Vermont does not have football, but it also has very successful ice hockey, baseball, soccer, etc. programs. Vermont boasts one of the highest academic records in the nation for its athletes. Most of these students come to Vermont to study, and get to play too. Dan Fogel came to UVM this year from LSU. He excited the athletic community by promising to reinvigorate some exitement for athletics on the campus, but everyone realizes that there is little financial resource to help. That what Tulane needs to be. Strive for the highest academic standards in the world. If we can also afford to let some students play sports, then great. Hopefully sports would draw enough attention to pay for themselves, and not put any financial drain on the rest of the university.

I'm proud to be a Tulane Alumnus, and proud to be a Tulane Green Wave fan, but athletics is not why I went to Tulane, even if we did beat LSU in football when I was there...

*****

For what it's worth, I think Division II is a better fit.

*****

I was a 40-plus year old graduate student at Tulane for a brief (2 years) period of time in the late 1980's, completing my degree in 1990. I attended part-time while on active duty in the U.S. Navy. While my background and experience before I came to Tulane were probably far from average for most students, my expectation of receiving a high-quality education was what motivated me to seek the advanced degree at Tulane. The athletics program was far from even a minor concern.

In response to those who question whether or not intercollegiate athletics are necessary to a university's providing a quality education, I point to the University of Chicago as a school with a national academic reputation of the highest order. As I understand it, the U. of C. withdrew from intercollegiate athletic competition many years ago while still enjoying a fine reputation and maintaining a quality athletics program. I'm not aware that the U. of C.'s reputation for providing education of the highest quality has suffered in the least as a consequence of not fielding a football team.

I would also point to the professional schools in the nation, which live and prosper based on their educational reputation, as other examples of schools that have not found intercollegiate athletic competition necessary to attracting students or providing quality education. One might counter, with respect to the professional schools, that they are in a more serious business than undergraduate institutions and don't have time and resources to devote to athletics. I suggest that no university that is entirely serious about education, whether at the undergraduate level or higher, has time and resources to devote to non-serious pursuits.

I believe Tulane has an excellent reputation for providing quality education, and enjoys that well-earned reputation both in the south and elsewhere in the nation: that reputation will not suffer if the university doesn't compete in and win contests with no relationship to educational quality.

*****

I thought long and hard about this issue before I have written. I have read pros and cons and done my own thinking. I hold two degrees from Tulane and have sent many to school here through my exortations about the overall offerings of the institution. Perhaps it's the fact I grew up in a small town in North La. and from the earliest age I can remember participated in all sports, but the idea of my alma mater not competing at the highest level does not rest well in my mind. The outflow of monies to perpetuate the highest level of competition is certainly a sensible consideration, but the overlooking of the unintended result of destroying that competition should not go unmeasured. Frankly the fact that this has all evolved surreptitiously and with unprecedented speed causes me great concern that a process akin to a kangaroo court is in action. Prior to making such a decision it seems the fairer and more sensible course would be to publicize the real issues to the alumni and find out what the majority want and how those that support the continuation of competition at the highest level might react to the realities of the economic situation. This seems to be the plan of the athletic director and a reasonable one in my estimation before the potential catastrophe of eliminating the programs. I don't know what Paul Tulane would want if he were alive to participate in the decision regarding his namesake, but something tells me he would not want to walk away from competition. And is it really important anymore what he would want or is it more important what the hundred thousand surviving alumni would want. Is it even appropriate for a board of administrators not voted on by the alumni to make this kind of choice for us? I feel it is not. I believe the board should evaluate and make recommendations but that a choice of this nature must be one made by those that attended Tulane and chose to for whatever reasons and who continue to support it for the individual purpose of each. Therefore I suggest that the board does not have the power to represent those with whom it has no real connection or to choose the future path of an institution in which it and its individual members for the most part have no invested interest, no memories, and no life long experiences. I submit a decision of the magnitude under consideration must be made by the alumni and the alumni alone.

*****

I strongly advocate Tulane remain a Division 1-A school. Our athletic record has been respectable ... and the notoriety athletics gives the school has untold value to the school ... far more value than the operating deficit ... it would be a tragic mistake to go down even to 1-AA.

*****

To the Board of Administrators:

I believe that the university should either cut the football team outright or move down to Division III athetics--but for football only, if possible. Schools such as Marquette play basketball, etc. in Conference USA but don't field a football team; we could do the same.

The same students and fans will attend the football games regardless of what division Tulane plays in. I graduated in '01, so I'm familiar with the current attitudes at Tulane. A few people go to most of the games and would go regardless of our division because they are diehard fans; some, like me, attend a few each year; many students never go at all.

Other than athletes, I don't know one person who attended Tulane because of the athletics, or to whom Tulane's athletics even impacted their decision to attend. So if athletics can't be self-sustaining, then we need to trim the program.

The value of my diploma depends not on our football team but on the quality of Tulane's academic programs. Many of the academic programs are sorely underfunded. Meanwhile, athletics is a bloated, ridiculous money-hogging machine. One of my roommates attended Tulane on an athletic scholarship, and I was amazed at everything the school provided for her. I attended Tulane on an academic scholarship but I still had to pay for my books, food, and parking permit as well as a portion of my housing. My roommate never had to worry about anything. She had an account at Bruff Stuff and would buy ten six-packs of beer because she had money in her account that she didn't need. One day she went over to buy more beer, and she came back empty-handed: turns out two football players had cleaned out the Bruff Stuff supply of alcohol by buying forty six-packs.

Meanwhile, I took an advanced experimental social psychology lab with forty other students (an advanced psych lab--forty students--with a graduate student as our teacher!). I took many 600-level sociology classes with upwards of 40 people in them as well. This limited my ability to forge relationships with my professors -- excuse me, TAs -- which limited my ability to continue on with graduate school. And I was hardly the only sociology and/ or psych major to find that this was the case.

So, given the choice between football and bettering our academic programs, I'm going to choose academics. There was a time when Tulane was known as "The Harvard of the South." How much in alumni donations could we rake in if that were true once again?

On a side note--back in the day (like 1920), the University of Chicago had an outstanding football team and a so-so academic program. A new president came in and dumped the football program and beefed up academics. Now the University of Chicago is on par with the Ivy League academically, having produced many award-winning scientists, etc.

I'd also like to say that I think it's unfair that people are blaming this on Dr. Cowen. It's the athletic department's fault for not spending their outrageous budget better. I've agreed with little of what Dr. Cowen has implemented previously, but I think he's on the right track with this whole athletics fiasco. I have to say the guy has earned back my trust, because I feel like he's genuinely concerned with academics.

As far as the money Tulane rakes in for the city because of our athletic programs, if that's really such a concern, then let's pull a "Saints." Demand cut-rate use of the Superdome, etc. or we're outta here.

*****

As a 1984 graduate, I want to state my support for the Tulane Athletic Program and my desire to see Tulane maintain a Division 1A athletic program. A full Division 1A athletic program is essential to maintaining the quality education that Tulane provides as athletics are an important part of university life and the total education that includes more than academics.

*****

As a lettering alumni from the track team, I ask that you continue to support competitive sports at Tulane and remain in Division 1. It was a huge part of my education experience and I think it would be a detriment to the morale of the student body to lessen the inter-collegiate sports opportunities at Tulane.

*****

Look at the environs and the local habitat, I still see education as number one priority. We put two children through school. Paid by us. Tulane's committment was made a long time ago when it de-emphasized Atheletics - to compete against the state schools, and dropped out of the SEC. You cannot put the tooth paste back in the tube once it is out. Life goes on. If Socrates said, the next generation will ruin society, let's not make it so.

*****

Finally, in recent years, Tulane has returned to some degree of glory in terms of football and its athletics program! I can actually say "Tulane" and "athletics" in the same sentence. I, for one, think that is a good and very healthy thing to be able to do with respect to the potential for survival and create value at Tulane.

I travel the world on business every week, finding myself in over forty countries in the last ten years alone. Tulane's fine reputation is recognized in most of these places for its academics, art and the culture associated with being in New Orleans and the South. It is highly regarded by all, including those staunch LSU fans, for these same attributes.

Athletics is however, a more USA thing than academics. When, however, I discuss Tulane sports domestically I have been amazed at the positive response I have received as a direct result of Tulane's current level of success. Friends of my children and prospective Tulane students of the future recognize the school and these same successes. Business associates too mention us favorably and are impressed with the overall success of Tulane in the last ten years. This is good for Tulane and a job well done to date

I am always amazed however, as I travel, the number of times I run into the discussion in a locale about the need to reduce or eliminate athletics from many noted colleges and universities in favor of increased emphasis on academics. In the end, it is always the athletics versus academics as the driver.

I am involved in creating value for my customers and channel partners while enhancing performance to meet our shareholder expectations so as to set our company apart in the marketplace as a preferred provider of products and services. It takes the whole package to be successful in my company and industry.

With a reduced emphasis on athletics you will be offering an unacceptable and difficult to market alternative in the marketplace of student and alum opinion. Most students attend Tulane for the whole package though they may not always participate or benefit from every offering. This whole package is part of the marketing, the getting out on the street of Tulane's name to prospective students, their parents and families, friends and other influencers who will say "Yes, I've heard of Tulane. Sounds cool!". What is the competing number in this same group that hear about us first because of our academics or anything else? I would submit they will hear about Tulane first for its academics, secondly meet an alum and all other possibilities will follow.

I cannot believe that in this highly competitive marketplace for recruiting new students that it will be as easy to recruit new students to Tulane with a more limited support by the university for its athletic programs. People pay attention to football and both men's and women's basketball even in the off-season. The negative press associated with the mere discussion of reducing this emphasis will have a negative impact for years to come on those student athletes considering Tulane at this time.

I grew up in Nebraska and I know what football can do for a school, its student body and its alum programs near and long term. I now live in enemy territory, Oklahoma, and can tell you that football success has not hurt OU, OSU or the Texas in the last few years either. Likewise, I have seen the great impact of their highly recognized research programs on the local economies.

In this local environment I have seen, at the same time, the difficult situation resulting from similar discussions on the academic and athletic programs at the University of Tulsa. If Tulane wants to see the disastrous impact of this discussion and poor university, not student or alum, support for athletics this should be your first stop. Yes, they get great kids who continue to attend and their academic reputation is stellar. Unfortunately, the university has failed to listen to its students and alum so fan, student, prospective local student, community and alum support has dropped dramatically. Tulsa has had excellent basketball success in recent years but it's recruiting and facilities issues are the subject of regional discussion everywhere you go.

This, in turn, has ratcheted up significantly the pressure on the school's administration. In pro sports one has to live with the ownership and administration of a team such as the Saints. That is not the case in college sports and I certainly will be looking to the administration to not lead Tulane down Tulsa's path. Tulane is too good a school to trash over this same bogus discussion rooted in academics versus athletics, even in tough economic times. A good product will create more revenues and opportunity for the school, not less. I believe one only needs to look to Henry Ford regarding what people talking about you can do and if we can give them good things to say we can help ourselves.

Tulsa's decision to accommodate the academic lobby within the school has gone a long way to destroy this noble university. This is to the point where even the university staff and leadership is talking openly and publicly about their need for internal change. Adding to the fray is the local media which continues to daily increase the pressure on the university to fix their problem.

I have yet to hear anyone say they are in favor of doing anything other than getting their athletics back on track and fixing the ills created by their prior decisions to reduce emphasis. Tulane should be very cautious so as to save itself from a similar fate.

*****

Please keep Tulane as a Division I football team. With a Divsion III footballl team you will only get 3rd rate pledges from me going forward. Go Greenwave!

*****

As an graduate of Tulane (Arts and Sciences 1988) and a former employee of the medical school (from 1991-1993), I recognize both the academic role of the university and the importance of athletics in building a sense of community among the campus community (including alumni).

This sense of community can, of course, exist whether Tulane plays in Division I, I-AAA, II, or III. I fear that the community at large is reading this as "Tulane plans to get rid of all athletics", and more effort needs to be made to demonstrate that this is not the point of the current evaluation. The information that I have read from the Athletics Department does not make enough effort IMO to point out this fact.

Nevertheless, I believe that athletic scholarships provide a powerful means for students who would not otherwise be able to attend Tulane to receive a quality education while participating in sports. Tulane has been widely recognized for its dedication to seeing that its student athletes receive a quality education and actually graduate. It would be sad to see this tradition end.

I do not believe, however, that financial resources of the university should be diverted to athletics at the expense of other programs. The Tulane library facilities are in need of considerable improvement, and there are many other needs on campus that are more important than athletics in shaping the future of the university.

I would like to see a two year moratorium on these decisions for now, along with a campaign from the Athletics Department to raise funds to become more self-supporting. This is obviously not going to happen overnight, but it could be phased in by the board over a period of 4-5 years -- with the subsidy for athletics decreasing each year until it reaches an acceptable level (which may not necessarily be zero IMO).

A $ 5 million annual deficit would go a long way in the Tulane libraries. It would provide full-tuition scholarships for 185 undergraduate or graduate students each year. That is a far greater influence on the university or the world than the Tulane football team will ever accomplish.

Nevertheless, $ 5 million is just 50,000 alumni or local businesses donating $ 100 each year or 20,000 alumni or local businesses donating $ 250 each. This is not an unobtainable goal -- ESPECIALLY if the university made a public commitment to use the previous athletics subsidy in a way that demonstrates its commitment to academics (as per the examples that I listed above, though there are certainly many other examples that could be considered).

A recent article in the Times-Picayune rightly discussed the economic impact of Tulane athletics on the New Orleans business community. This same business community would be willing to provide concrete financial support if asked by the university -- again provided that the university not just absorb this money (either the funds contributed for athletics or the previous athletics subsidy) back into its general fund.

*****

As some one interested in academic excellence first (my kid passed up Wesleyan and U Michigan for a Founders Scholarship there), D III keeps me happy, but…….D II keeps the athletic scholarships but keeps you out of the D I messes and $$$ prevailing over academics.

Good luck keeping the alum happy…

*****

Dear President Cowen,

I am proud to say that this fall I will be a member of the Tulane women‚s swimming and diving team. After months of consideration, deliberation, recruiting trips, and even tears, I chose to attend Tulane and become a part of an exceptionally strong institution. What brings me to Tulane is not primarily athletics; however, academics are also not the main reason I chose to become a Green Wave. The truly unique blend of athletics and academics at Tulane attracted me to the university, and will bring me to New Orleans in August.

As a sophomore in high school, I began to receive numerous letters and mailings from many prestigious colleges and universities, including Tulane. I saved around eighty percent of these mailingsˆmostly informational packets and viewbooksˆfor future reference. But when the time came during my senior year to start thinking seriously about where I wanted to attend college, Tulane was not even a consideration. Why? The school lacked a women‚s swimming and diving team. The letters, pictures, everything from Tulane had been thrown away. My parents had told me several times in the past, each time I received a letter from Tulane, that it was a great school and it might be somewhere I would like to go to college, but the catch was that there was no athletic program there to attract me. Had it not been for my father, who discovered online that Tulane would be resurrecting its women‚s swim team, I never would have considered Tulane as one of my college choices. ! Yes, I had recognized that the school was uncommon in its level of academic prestige, but the other half of what I wanted in my college experience was missing.

Several of my other college choices presented athletic programs that I was interested in and would have been proud to have been a part of. Yet many of these schools that recruited me were Division II or even Division III institutions, and I felt the reason I had worked hard for thirteen years was to become a competitive athlete at the highly competitive Division I level. Swimming at a level less than Division I would be the equivalent of selling myself short, watching the endless hours I spent in the pool training to become an elite athlete go down the drain. The opportunities to swim for schools like Colgate, Lehigh, and Bucknell were attractive, but the athletic programs were not nearly strong or supportive enough for me to become the kind of swimmer I want to be. I threw away a letter from Emory without opening itˆthere was absolutely nothing in terms of athletics to attract me to the school. I was also recruited by Kenyon, which fields the women‚s Divisi! on III national champion swim team. Furthermore, I was also recruited by Truman State, whose women‚s swimming team won its third straight national title at the Division II level this spring. But I did not want to step into a level of swimming where I would be guaranteed a trip to the weaker, much less competitive Division II or Division III nationals each year. I did not choose to become a national champion or NCAA All-American by default in less competitive pools of swimmers. The level of competition that exists at Tulane and at the NCAA Division I level is what drives me as a student-athlete. I know there are many athletes at Tulane now who feel the same. Next year as I begin my swimming career competing at this level, I will be forced to work to my full potential to qualify for nationals or even become an All-American.

My decision to attend Tulane rests greatly with the fact that the athletic department is dedicated to the success of each individual athlete. Nowhere else have I observed a group of highly professional, motivated, driven coaches and staff. On my recruiting trip to Tulane, I realized that if I ended up there, I would be supported by an honorable group of distinguished adults, and I would be surrounded by bright, hard-working students. I found that nothing is missing in Tulane‚s strong athletic program and I firmly believe Tulane is unparalleled in its balance of quality education and athletic environment. I feel lucky to have found such a school that provides me endless opportunities as a student and growing person, as well as an athlete.

Next year I will bring to Tulane the qualities and leadership of a NISCA High School All-American, a USA Swimming Scholastic All-American, a team captain, and a well-rounded student. Many students and athletes like me will continue to be attracted to Tulane as long as it proudly remains a Division I school. A fatal move to a lower NCAA division will result in low-quality athletic programs and many more letters thrown away. Please consider the contingency, rather than the present situation, of the university as you decide the future of Tulane‚s great athletic legacy.

Sincerely,

*****

While the "fact finding" has apparently been going on since January, the amount of time that this issue has been out in the open is insufficient. The entire process, thus far, feels rushed and impersonal. I understand that the internet is a powerful tool and many can submit their opinions via email, as I am doing right now. In addition, there have been some open forums where attendants were able to speak freely. However, I find it cowardly that a decision as big as this, with as far reaching impact as this one has, will be made at a time when the majority of the student body and faculty are gone for the summer.

Ultimately, I understand that money is key and without sufficient funding the university cannot support all programs, academic, athletic, or otherwise. But if we decrease the amount of money that is being spent on athletics, will academics benefit as much as you expect? I have read the presentation that talks about how difficult it is to keep up with the requirements for Division I competition. Now I would like to see the presentation that shows how decreasing athletic spending is going to benefit the academic programs? If you are so sure that starving athletics will save the university, then show me the facts or at least the projections.

There has to be another way to get through this difficult financial time. So many schools are striving to better their athletic programs so they can compete at a Division I level and gain national notoriety. Why are we so willing to give this up for what seems like a temporary band-aid for a long term problem.

*****

As a 1991 Tulane graduate (A&S), I strongly believe Tulane should stay in Division I. One of the reasons I went to Tulane was because because of the major college teams, which I could easily follow long after my Tulane days would be over. It was a factor in picking Tulane over comparable academic schools like Washington University and Emory, who are Division III institutions.

Staying in Division I is important for national recognition. Many people have heard of Tulane because of the athletic squads. The average guy on the street has likely not heard of Washington or Emory, despite their high academic standards, because their athletic programs receive scant coverage.

I was unaware the athletic program was in such dire financial straits, and wish this had been communicated to he alumni earlier. I am prepared to write a check to support Tulane Athletics, but only if we remain Division I, and keep the Football program. I would have no interest in supporting a Division III athletic program, or one that drops the sport with the longest tradition at the school, Football.

Thank you for your consideration, and the check will be in the mail, if the status quo remains.

*****

To whom it may concern, Tulane's ability to offer outstanding academics combined with a Division IA sports program is to be commended. Rather than giving up this unique niche, Tulane should be used as a successful example of where the two, sometimes conflicting agendas, coexist successfully. The combination of Division IA sports and academics gives Tulane a special enhancement that the one program without the other would lose. I think it is better to be an academic leader in Division IA than just another university that offers sports. I am sure your alumni would agree.

*****

Tulane must stay division one!!!

*****

I feel that we have come too far to go backwards. Tulane has suffered years of humilation at the hands of news people and other colleges. We now are holding our heads VERY high and have young athletes in first-draft consideration.

Our rates of athletic graduation are superb. Please find a way to keep this impressive showing alive. I was there in the early and mid 50's .... times have certainly changed for the better ... please keep the momentum alive.

*****

hey, don't give up on football....recruit a better team...you did it a few years ago and were nationally ranked...and don't drop down to a lower division unless you want to play teams like brown univ.

*****

As a recent graduate (Newcomb 2002) I would have to say that maintaining an athletic department at Tulane is essential. I certainly would never have considered Tulane as a potential school if no athletic department existed. I was never a college athlete nor did I ever hope to be one, but I find that to have even a semblance of school spirit you absolutely need a sports program. I am not as passionate about the need for a football team. Obviously football is an expensive sport to maintain particularly when you have difficulty selling tickets to students (which are free) and to the community (EVEN when we had the undefeated season in 1998). I am a total football lover but I also value education above all else and we as students are at Tulane to get a superior education. Since our football program tends to drain our resources that could be better used on educational pursuits, I agree with the idea of eliminating our football program. I would be very disappointed to see our athletic program go from Division I to Division III. The exposure Division I school's get over Division III schools is enormous. And as we all know, publicity of any sort as long as it is positive can only help us to become a more sought after and prestigious school. With all being said, I loved my experience at Tulane. I just hope that the students that follow me will also have the opportunity to see our baseball team defeat LSU and our basketball, tennis and track teams to continue to earn titles and bring them home to NOLA with pride. Thank you for the opportunity to voice my opinions and good luck on what is sure to be a difficult decision that regardless of the outcome is sure to have many critics.

*****

I am an alum and support the university and also the athletic department. Please do not drop down in classification

*****

I am the parent of a Tulane soon-to-be sophomore who chose Tulane in part because of its athletic program and the opportunity to cheer for a Division I team. School spirit was one of his big considerations. In addition, my husband and I both believe that moving to Division II or lower would significantly lessen the visibility of Tulane and will lower its cache or emotive value in the eyes of the general public. --

*****

I'm all for aiding and enhancing the athletic programs of Tulane University as long as it is for the improvement of the students as students, and not a detriment, or a "reason" for going to college. Yes, in my day the football, basketball, tennis players became doctors, lawyers, chiefs, etc. but they were also good athletes. Not only that, we had nationally known tennis players, All-American football players, and appeared in big bowl games. The times were exciting too, even if the players were not always the big, strong-looking bozos you see today---everything is relative. Humans have become taller and stronger with each generation.

I'm also for giving the average and underprivileged an equal opportunity to obtain an education via athletic scholarships. This is particularly important in a city where the population is over 50 percent minority races. But I believe all on scholarship should show appreciation for that opportunity with honesty and dedication to learning. (I remember when Kent McWilliams was on scholarship through his basketball ability--and look how he showed Tulane his appreciation!!!!!) No, I don't expect everyone to be a Kent McWilliams, but student treatment has a lot to do with student results.

Unfortunately, athletic programs in colleges and universities today have become big money throughout the whole of our country. Exciting for the schools? Perhaps--until one hears how this affects the lives of those who only last a couple of years as professionals in sports (because that may be all they know or care about) and end up with no means or learning to support themselves---many never having learned basic English from grammar school. I don't want to see Tulane become guilty of such "production" and lack of consideration. This greed for money not only harms the student (the citizen), but the school (and the whole country). I'd like to see Tulane, with its wonderful academic record, be an example to other schools as regards athletics. Thank you for reading this.

*****

As an alum of Texas Christian University (graduate and undergraduate) and Georgetown University (law), and as someone who is quite familiar with the athletic program at Austin College, I would like to add my comments to those you have collected in connection with the current review being undertaken concerning Tulane's athletic program.

First, I find it unfathomable that you are conducting this review at this time - especially in light of the expansion moves by the Atlantic Coast Conference and the possibility that TCU and Tulane could be enhancing their conference status, thereby vastly altering the revenue picture of C-USA and its member institutions. The existence of your review has had a dampening and extremely unfavorable impact upon the positioning of C-USA in this regard and could well hamper our collective efforts to better our position. The timing simply could not have been worse; the mere existence of the review could well undermine years and years of effort to enhance our status. TCU accepted an invitation to join C-USA just a few years ago; if we had known that Tulane was going to de-emphasize athletics (or even consider the de-emphasis of athletics), different choices could well have been made. Frankly, I can't help but believing that your actions have already constituted a betrayal - you have weakened our collective bargaining leverage and you have implicitly gone back on your word when you voted in favor of the invitation to TCU to join your conference.

Second, I am quite familiar with the atmosphere, school unity and student spirit at schools like TCU and Georgetown. G'town plays football, but not Division 1A - the opponents are schools such as Gallaudet and Bucknell and virtually noone attends the games. There is no school band. There are no fall student events that even remotely compare. The football players do not take the team seriously. At TCU, there is a vast difference; the entire school community supports the team - even when we lose. There are performance opportunities for athletes, musicians, showgirls, drill team members, cheerleaders etc... - parents and friends of all come to see these students perform on a large stage; there is nothing comparable at Georgetown. As a musician, I would never have considered Georgetown for my undergraduate education - despite its strong academics.

Third, as a son of a professor emeritus at AC, I am very familiar with the small college experience. While the sporting events at AC are pleasant and there is a nice atmosphere, in no way does this experience at a small college come close to comparing to that of a major university such as TCU or Tulane. AC used to play major college football and gave athletic scholarships until the 1950's; but simply could not compete. Tulane's situation is far different - Tulane finished 2nd in C-USA in the annual Sears Cup competition and won a bowl in 2002. Tulane finished undefeated against a major college schedule in 1998. AC also has no band; so the music program is inferior; the band disbanded when AC dropped major athletics. I have read with interest your extolling of the virtues of Washington University - perhaps you should broaden your study to include other programs as well.

College athletics will always be an integral part of the student experience; regardless of our chosen fields of study. To downgrade that experience for your students would be a disservice to them. One can pretend that the experience would be the same in the event of a substantial downgrade; my experience is that it would never be the same. Moreover, it would be irreversible; the likelihood of re-instituting a major athletics program is not large.

Personally, I have enjoyed the TCU-Tulane rivalry (and we intend to get you back for Quinton Brown's vicious hit!) and would be very disappointed to see you terminate your program because of some anti-athletic nerdish agenda. Tulane's image would suffer monstrously and your national profile would diminish. Not only athletics would be downgraded; music programs and other fields would suffer as well.

*****

SIRS, IF THE UNIVERSITY IS LOSING MONEY ON DIV I AND IT WILL DEGRADE ACADEMICS WITHDRAW FROM DIV I

*****

I was saddened to hear that Tulane is considering dropping its Division I status.

Having been a student from 1988-1992, I think that I have a unique view on athletics because while I was there, I watched the demise of the swim team and the return of basketball.

As I read many others' comments on the website, I see the focus mainly on the major sports like Football, Basketball, and Baseball. I think that people are also forgetting that other athletes in many other sports will be involved if the Division I status is dropped. We have many top notch athletes in these other sports as well.

I was friends with many of the members of the swim team when I was in school. Besides being great athletes, they were also great students and great people. I watched those people deal with the loss of their program. I also watched many of them leave our school so that they could continue to pursue athletics. This was a real loss for our school.

Conversely, I attended the first Midnight Madness when basketball returned to Tulane. The school spirit and pride in Tulane could not have been greater. Had we been restarting the program to play schools like Wash U and Emory, I do not think that would have been the case.

Anyone who thinks that changing our sports status will improve our academics is wrong. Tulane already attracts top students from around the country and the world. We are not and never will be an Ivy League school. However, sports aside, I would bet that most students who went to Tulane were not looking for an Ivy League education. They were looking for a good education at a well respected school, which Tulane is.

Our students go on to greatness in the fields of Medicine, Law, Business, Engineering, and all other areas of professional life. To say that this would improve based on the elimination of athletics is wrong.

I understand that the football program is losing money. However, I would not want the other sports and all of the student athletes hurt due to one program. Changing our status to Division III as a solution seems incredibly short sighted. I think that the losses to the University as a whole through losing all of those student athletes and the loss of high caliber sports are too great to measure.

*****

My opinion, as a contributing alumnus, is that Tulane should remain in Division I and should not be relegated to the obscurity of the lower divisions. I would seek to remind the regents and administrators involved in this decision that Green Wave football has been around for a very long time and has persevered throughout the years. Disbanding Green Wave football, or athletics in general, would be dismantling a long-standing tradition. Football coach Chris Scelfo did a remarkable job this year in guiding Tulane to a thrilling victory in the Aloha Bowl.

*****

I am a Tulane Law School alumnus, freshly minted just under a month ago. All I can say about this issue about Tulane's possibly dropping out of Division I is that President Cowen should not be at all reluctant to make the decision he feels is best -- even though it may happen to be unpopular. Partisanship (either in favor of athletics, academics, or whatnot) should not have a place in the discussion as to what is best for Tulane itself. So, if Athletics is called upon to make sacrifices to better the body of which it is simply a member, then it should do so, remembering the larger context in which it exists.

*****

Can someone provide this Tulane alum with the educational background of the members of the board who will be deciding the fate of Tulane athletics next week? I really think that it is important to know if a board member has previous ties to Tulane, the New Orleans area, or the rest of the state of Louisiana.

And, by the way, I have said it before and I will say it until someone buries me six feet under - DO NOT drop Tulane out of 1-A athletics! With all of the so-called intelligent people we have there at the university, surely some educated Tulane minds should be able to work something out to keep things as they are.

*****

All the damn money that school has and I cannot believe what I am hearing!!!!! Tulane should remain division 1 unless they want to play in the girls league..... Or maybe we should give Annika Sorenstam a scholarship to play on the Greenwave football team.... Or better yet, start a college arena football league, maybe we can play Jr colleges or Communitee Colleges. Look we are used to a loosing record, it has never been about winning. It has always been about gathering and having a good time on a Saturday Night. Unbelievable stupidity,

*****

Unfortunately, many prospective students and most people in this country, usually characterize a school by how good its athletics are, or at least attach name recognition to athletic achievements If Tulane diminishes its athletic department, many people that are non-affiliated and even those affiliated with the University, will feel that our school is not as good, and that we have become second rate.

If for no other reason, but this one, Tulane should stay Division I. To drop to a lower division, or drop football would be a colossal mistake. Tulane is still paying for the mistake of dropping out of the SEC, please do not make another one.

*****

Keep the Football Program and stay in Division I !!!

*****

I think it is safe to say that the University has completely lost touch with the alumni. The attempt to slide this "athletics review" past the majority of us with very little publication or notice speaks to the issue. For the last five years, President Cowen has failed to raise funds, and is now attempting to rob us of our deserved alumni pride.

Is there a more satisfying feeling for a local alumni than walking into the office after Tulane meets and beats LSU in an NCAA Super Regional baseball tournament (2001)? Over one-hundred years of tradition have gone into the Tulane athletics program, and now it seems that Mr. Cowen would like to scapegoat this remarkably successful department to cover up his own failures. The irony, of course, is that he has enraged the very alumni from whom he should be soliciting funds.

This year Tulane, a school lacking name recognition in my original home state of Colorado and on much of the West Coast, beat Hawaii in a championship game on Christmas night. I know that a good deal of families sat down to enjoy a great game after a pleasant meal, and what school did they see emerge a champion? Without Division 1-A status, our name recognition (and hence ability to attract a diverse student body) will only diminish.

Even the New Orleans Saints organization, and Jim Haslett and Mickey Loomis personally, have come out in support of our wonderful program. In the last five years, Tulane has produced a quarterback who led his team to an NFC Championship game as a rookie when forced to step in (Shaun King - Tampa Bay Buccaneers, after his "perfect season" at Tulane), a starting quarterback full of potential (Patrick Ramsey - Washington Redskins), and kicker who will likely start as a rookie this season (Seth Marler - Jacksonville Jaguars).

Last week, Mr. Ramsey was interviewed on CBS Sportsline. And he discussed Tulane. Mr. Cowen has not managed to publicize the University nearly so well in this same time, to the best of my knowledge.

I think that there should be a vote. Not over the fate of the athletics department, but over the fate of Mr. Cowen.

*****

I have no opinion on the issue of whether to move from Division 1, and I doubt that other alumni living away from New Orleans (as I do) have enough information to base an intelligent opinion. Do what you think is right.

*****

The thought of Tulane downgrading below Division I in athletics is really disappointing news. I am a graduate from 1996 and some of my most enjoyable memories involve top-notch collegiate athletics. When the Tulane Basketball program was ranked in the top 20 and consistently on TV is made me consider visiting and then applying to Tulane. Athletics gives a university national recognition and there is no reason Tulane shouldn't be able to compete with peer institutions that excel at Academics, Research, and Athletics. I hope the board will not be fooled by the potential to eliminate short term athletic spending. This limited savings comes at the cost of national recognition (prominence), future revenues, and the overall Tulane experience.

*****

After being perhaps the most instrumental person in getting Chris Worster to commit to Tulane, I am appalled to here that we are even considering a downgrade of our athletics program. Unfortunately, many of us live out of town and can only get to games when visiting New Orleans or when the Green Wave comes to our city. If you believe that Alumni support will continue after you have downgraded the athletic program, you are sadly mistaken.

One of the Tulane Alum reps called today to meet with me next week. I will tell you that if we do anything other than status quo, that there is NO chance that I will be supporting the program. We have won bowls 2 of the last 5 years, had a great baseball team, had a competitive basketball team and play in a good conference.

Any downgrade of our program will make Tulane a second (or third) rate university for recruiting, attendance and alumni support.

*****

I am a alumna of Tulane University. Newcomb class of 2002. I want Tulane to stay in Division I.

*****

Instead of sitting back, waiting to make a decision, the administration should be pro-active and and put their full support behind the program. This would help ensure that Tulane not alienate the New Orleans community any further. As it is, much of the New Orleans community looks at Tulane as an arrogant Northern institution. Paul Tulane may have been from the North, but the school is in the South, which is something I feel the administration has overlooked, time and time again.

In addition, as the conferences in D-1 are shook up, this could help Tulane look more desirable to a better conference (Big East). Tulane could be more like Northwestern, Duke, and Vandy in respects to being a top notch academic institution in a large conference. More importantly, a better conference would help in fundraising and athletic revenues, to the point that the athletics could become profitable for the University on a whole.

Now is not the time for contraction, but expansion. By stepping up to the plate, Tulane could send a message that their Alumni, Community, and History mean something, and that it is worth salvaging.

We have had several good years lately in regards to athletics, but you wouldn't know this based on the local media coverage and lack of advertising and support. If the New Orleans community was embraced by Tulane, the city would once again support the teams and rally for the Greenies, instead of LSU.

Moving to Division III would be just as damaging. It will take years and years for Tulane to build up a fan an Alumni base that wouldn't feel slighted by this move. Remember Tulane used to play in the SEC, whereas schools like Wash U and Emory have always had lower division sports. That's what makes Tulane different and special - It can provide the best of both worlds. Trust me on this, as I transferred from Brandeis to Tulane, because D-1 sports help provide a more complete college experience.

I guarantee that if the administration acted like they cared about the history and tradition of Tulane and its place in New Orleans, donations would increase and so would the loyalty.

*****

I think it is very important that Tulane remain in Division I for Intercollegiate Athletics. It is important not only to the core customers, the students, but also to the city of New Orleans and the state of Louisiana. Having grown up in New Olreans, my decision to attend Tulane might have been different if the school was in another division. I did not participate as a college athlete, but it was an important factor in my decision.

*****

As a recent alumi, having been there to see some really good Tulane Athletics including a football season that ended with us ranked 7th in the country in football, I am ashamed to even be writing this email! I cannot believe that the talking heads at the forefront of this issue even think this will help the school in ANY way. All it will do is hurt the athletics program, hurt applications to the school and hurt us in our overall national image as a top tier school with Division 1 sports. I am disappointed and disgusted, and I am sure that I can speak for the majority of the recent alumni that I have come across. Thanks for nothing.

*****

Class of '83 who suffered during the basketball scandal, but remembers when Athletics was a big part of the school and if, run properly, a great way to raise money for other programs.

*****

I understand the concern about Tulane spending a lot of money on college sports. However, I think having a truly competitive sports program is valuable. When I lived in Palo Alto, I was amazed by what Stanford did in athletics and academics. I know they are somewhat unique due to their level of donors, but part of the reason for that commitment is the feeling the school gave them. Their athletic programs were closely tied with the school and created a wonderful sense of community. I know Tulane Stadium had to be torn down so the campus could grow but I firmly believe that losing it and moving activities to the Superdome killed the football team. I have always been curious why games were not moved to Tad Gormley Stadium. The athletic teams really bring a special feeling to a school. Fans come to games early and leave late. Bands stir up fans and rally them into games. Alumni are pulled back into the school through these sporting events. I know the decisions ahead will not be easy but I hope you can find a balance between academics and athletics.

*****

I have purchased season tickets for football and think Tulane should remain in Division 1. Thank you

*****

It is hard to believe that Tulane is only now realizing the trouble it is in. I graduated from Tulane in 1972 and can recall being contacted only once in all these years regarding the purchase of tickets or even for a donation to the athletic department. If Tulane is serious about remaining a Division 1 school it will have to improve its sports promotions considerably and maintain better contact with the alumni. New Orleans is a city of choices when it comes to entertainment, witness the overall success of the Hornets which has become a choice of 15,000 people in just one year. How did they accomplish this, with great promotion. I would like to see Tulane remain in division 1. Our law firm has stepped up with ticket purchases which we hope will help. However, unless Tulane can get out of CUSA and get with a more interesting conference it is unlikely that the people will come.

*****

Dear Members of the Board:

As a graduate of both Newcomb College ('88) and the School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine ('91), I feel obligated to share with you my feeling regarding the up-coming decision of the future of Tulane Athletics.

I strongly believe that the University must maintain its Division I-A status. Despite all the adversity it has faced over the years (i.e., the decision to move the Football program to the Superdome, the Basketball Scandal). the Athletic Program at Tulane has persevered, and, as has been evidenced in recent years with the success of the Football Team, even flourished.

The esprit de corps that having sports teams - and especially football & basketball - creates should not be underestimated.

Thank you for allowing me this opportunity to share my opinions.

*****

This e-mail letter is to urge the Board to keep Intercollegiate Athletics at Tulane, including football. This important aspect of our university's life is central to our image, to student life, and to alumni loyalty. Let's not change what's not broken! Thanks for your attention,

*****

Tulane,

As an alumnus, I believe Tulane should try to stay as Divsion I.

*****

I cannot believe that Tulane would even consider dropping out of Division I sports. That is a horrible possibility and one that would anger me to no end. I will never make any contribution to the university if this decision is made.

I still cannot believe that Tulane ever dropped out of the SEC.

I believe that the university needs to remain in Division I and needs to increase its efforts and funding of the athletic programs.

*****

For the most part, Tulane football in recent years has been weak at best, and its competitive chances probably are only going to get smaller. We are merely pretending if we think we can be a competitive Div. 1 school for the long haul.

I would favor eliminating football and focusing more attention on basketball. I don't know where that puts us on a Divisional level (that stuff is way too confusing), but those are my thoughts.

*****

Tulane must remain Division I in order to contend with other top schools and continue drawing alumni. The prestige that comes from seeing the teams in major college-level sporting events only adds to all of the strides that have been (and continue to be) made academically. As an attorney coming from Tulane law school, its great to have an additional facet of collegiate life that I can point to with pride, making Tulane a 3-dimensional place.

*****

Question: Is it possible to move to Div II in football and retain Div. I status in everything else?? Tulane can compete in Div. I in baseball and maybe basketball, as well as other sports. If such a move is possible, I would support it. Whatever happens, I feel strongly that the football team,if it is retained, should move back to campus, and forget the Superdome.

*****

Send the money on improving the faculty, not athletics.

*****

Tulane is not a well-known University in California. While I value my Tulane degrees and my experience in New Orleans, if Tulane had a better reputation it would benefit all of the alumni on the West Coast.

The elimination of football or dropping down to a lower division will not help Tulane's recognition in California. It will deprive the University of one of its few outlets for enhancing its visibility.

Please keep the status quo!

*****

i think tulane should definately keep football but maybe play at tad gormley more than at the dome and another suggestion is - i know my family personnally and our friends have not been able to attend as many games since you moved all home games to the afternoon - we have too many conflicts with kids sports/birthday parties/etc that we do not have with the evening games - although we still by 5 season tickets - a lot of the time they go to waste because we can not go

*****

In reality, if Tulane drops out of Division 1, it WILL lose its ability to attract not only a wider range of students/potential students, but a significant financial base as well.

In general, it is "better to stay in Division 1, and wish you hadn't, than to drop out and wish you had remained."

Academics as well as athletics will benefit by remaining in the caliber of Division 1 schools. I urge the Board to vote the right way...to remain as a Division 1 school......

*****

I request that the university remain in division 1 for collegiate athletics..

*****

As a Tulane alumni, I wish to express my support for moving Tulane Intercollegiate Athletics out of Division I.

I think Tulane's credibility as an academic institution is undermined by athletic scholarships.

I have no objection to those who wish to play sports on a college campus, but do not think it should be part of the primary mission of the university.

I support moving to Division III, and placing the University's priorities where it belongs -- excellence in education.

*****

Feedback

I can remember vividly one of my first classes in Tulane Law School in 1956. The course was "Contracts," and the professor was the renowned Dr. Mitchell Franklin.

One of the students was wearing a high school letter jacket, and before the class began, Dr. Franklin took a look at him, and said, with a sneer, "Ye Gods, a Roman Gladiator."

I remember later, my Senior year, riding on the St. Charles trolly on the day of the Tulane-LSU football game, and I saw Dr. Franklin. I asked, "Think we'll win the game today?" He replied, with his usual eletist scowl, "What game?"

Dr. Franklin was widely thought of at that time as an avowed communist, but was such an intellectually competent professor, no one paid it much heed.

Recent faculty members have posthumously praised him, and I worry that many of those who are opposing Tulane's lofty athletic goals represent his sort of "intelligentsia."

He was an outstanding teacher. He was not what I would choose for a leader or a role model.

*****

It would be suicide to leave Division I!

*****

Thank you for the opportunity to express an opinion. Tulane University's highest priority should be scholarship. In my personal opinion, Tulane's should not be squandering precious resources on intercollegiate athletics. Many years ago the University of Chicago took then revolutionary step of dropping out of intercollegiate football. The academic ranking of the University of Chicago could not now be higher. Let Tulane be a leader where it counts.

*****

It is my opinion that Tulane athletics should remain in Division 1-A. Changing Divisions would be a step backwards. All of the programs have had such good success in Division 1-A recently that it would be ashame to quit now. I am very proud to support Tulane athletics.

*****

I graduated from A&S in 1987 and from Tulane Law School in 1990. I attended Tulane with students from across this country and from other countries. I was fortunate to be in the company of students who could "write their own ticket" because they were an integral part of my college experience which was substantially enhanced by their mere presence. When asked why they chose Tulane when they had full scholarships to Yale, Harvard, etc. the answers were all similar.

Tulane offered them something that none of the others could, a unique and complete college experience, which included a full range of Division I-A sports programs. If Tulane drops football or drops to Division III, I think they will lose those students looking for something more out of college.

I was in the arena at midnight when Tulane had its first basketball practice after eliminating the program, think back about that night before you make a decision that will have an impact on the school for many years to come.

P.S. In case there is any doubt about my loyalty to the GreenWave, I currently have purple toenail polish on the toes of my left foot (which is in a cast). LSU won the baseball sub-regional tournament and now I will have purple toenails until they either win the CWS or get eliminated.

*****

From my perspective, there is a high positive correlation between excellence in athletics, excellence in academics, and excellence in other important phases of university life.

This, I think, is because good managers value success in all things, not just in some.

I am concerned about current proposals to de-emphasize athletics, because the admission that Tulane cannot or will not compete effectively represents a stain on the prestige of the University.

More importantly, however, I fear that a decision on the part of the leadership to forego competition in athletics mean this University lacks the confidence to believe that it can do well in areas (such as academics) which are admittedly more important that football.

Let's make the hard decision to be good, period. In academics, in football, and in any other work which touches upon the work of the University. If we have fielded a team which cannot, or will not, support this decision, let's find players who can.

*****

I have just been reading the hundreds, perhaps thousands, of comments of the heavily partisan Tulane athletic fans, suggesting the decision of the Board should be simple: Retain Division 1 NCAA status, and support TulaneÕs fine program.

What I have noticed most, however, is the beautifully articulate presentations being made, suggesting that academically inclined people should be impressed that we are not a bunch of pot bellied, red neck bozos, but passionately committed well educated (at Tulane, obviously) people, representing three to four generations of products of this wonderful University.

Just read every letter, as I have done, and youÕll know that Tulane has a lot to be proud of. YouÕd almost think everyone majored in English.

*****

Board of Tulane,

I would like to take this opportunity to express my opinion concerning Tulane Athletics. Tulane has a rich athletic history and very promising future and it would be a shame to see it wasted. When making my College/University selection three years ago a big factor for myself and many of my peers was the type of sports program the school I would attend offered. I can easily say that I would not have attended Tulane had they been a division 2 or 3 school when I applied. I also believe that less and less people will even know Tulane exists if they are not a division 1 school. A lot of people will not apply to schools they have never heard of. In keeping the best interests of the school in mind one must consider these points. The Tulane Athletics program is on the rise with improvements in a lot of areas, and increasing potential. Thank you for your time and the opportunity to voice my opinion.

*****

To Members of the Committee and The Board:

It has come to my attention that Mr. Cowan has not been able to provide the necessary leadership and guidance for Tulane University to grow and succeed, but has instead created a financial fiasco. Tulane Athletics (nor any other department at Tulane) should suffer due to his lack of leadership and fund raising skills. Dr. Kelly was able to run the university and watch it grow under his leadership. What we must do is release Mr. Cowan from his responsibilities from Tulane before any more damage can be done and find someone with proven leadership and fund raising skills to run the University. Mr. Cowan has only been successful at damaging the reputation and credibility of Tulane University. Do not dismantle the University -- just to keep him (Mr. Cowan) employed!! You must act to build and restore the tradition and credibility of Tulane -- and quickly!

*****

Not knowing all the facts I speak from simplicity and common sense. No one is going to watch a football game between Tulane and Case Western Reserve, or Washington University (St. Louis), or NYU, etc. And, anybody who pays for advertising is crazy. Tulane does not have a home football field per se. Everything is rented or leased. Football equipment is expensive. The football staff is expensive. 80+ scholarships are expensive. Everything associated with the game is expensive. Division 1-A is the correct place for Tulane. Basketball and baseball are very competitive. Football is also very competitive, but very expensive at "all" levels.

Certainly, there must be a way to maintain Division 1-A status. Of the 3 major sports, not including soccer and lacrosse, there are at least a handful of schools that compete at the top level, and don't play football. Again, no facts to back it up. Just thoughts. Maybe, consider getting rid of the football program.

On the other side......

If Tulane did not hand out athletic scholarships, but only academic scholarships the overall quality of the student would increase. I use the word "quality" very loosely. The average SAT/ACT would rise. The student-athlete would still be able to play the game he/she loves, only at his/her expense. Something similar to the way the Ivy's do it. I believe Wash U. only gives academic scholarships. Financial aid would still be available.

Take my word on this. No-one will pay to watch a Division 3 football game. If you think attendance is low at non-conference basketball games wait until your main rivalry is Emory, and they come to town.

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