|
Questions and Comments We've Received May 15, 2003 To Dr. Cowen and the Board of Trustees: When I was in high school, several years ago, I was offered the chance to play soccer at a few Division III and NAIA schools - notably Rhodes College in Memphis and Millsaps College in Jackson, Miss. The problem is that I might be the worst soccer player in the history of America. If we drop our athletic program to Division III, we would be attracting students like me instead of the best and the brightest that we currently attract with a Division I athletic department. It has always been my understanding that Tulane wanted to be the best of the best. Dropping down athletic divisions runs counter to that goal. Besides, we already have Divison III athletics at Tulane - it is called intramurals. We don't need another. I'm sure everyone already knows the facts. We have one of the top athletic departments in the country in terms of on-field and classroom performance. Our student-athletes graduate at a higher rate than regular students at Tulane and at a higher rate than student-athletes at just about every other school across the country. We have won two bowl games in the last few years. Baseball and women's basketball have been among the top teams in the country year in and year out. Our tennis teams both recently won conference USA championships. We have accomplished all this without any discernable support from the university (other than Dr. Cowen painting his face at a football game a few years back). Imagine the heights we could achieve if Dr. Cowen and the University actually supported athletics instead of treating it like a bastard step-child. It seems as though there is a horrible double-standard at work. If the annual cost of running the business school or the law school or the school of engineering, etc... were $5 or 7 million more than what was currently budgeted, the university would find a way to alter the budget to cover that difference. No one would be suggesting a change in the structure of those departments. Instead of sitting around trying to figure out why athletics runs at a deficit, appoint a commission to find ways to financially support athletics without tapping into the university's academic budget. It can be done and it should be done. Dr. Cowen, you and the Board have the opportunity to do the right thing and to serve as a model for the rest of the country. Don't fumble the ball. ***** There seems to be the perception among the parties who are contending that Tulane should discontinue Div. 1-A football or move to non-scholarship Div. III athletics that doing so will free up large amounts of cash, which will in turn make Tulane into an institution like, say, the University of Chicago or Emory University. I'd like to point out that even a well-run Div. III athletics program isn't exactly without costs. What those costs would be, it seemed to some of us who attended the briefing last Monday, the university seemed to be reticent about discussing, however any analysis which fails to present a complete picture has to be considered inherently misleading. It's only fair to point out that a Div. III athletics program, or indeed any program other than Div. 1-A, is virtually guaranteed to be one which runs an annual deficit. Whether, over the long-term, Tulane will actually free up any resources, if it makes a change, is very questionable. If Tulane would wholeheartedly support football, invest in it, promote it, nurture it, and so on, there's very much the possibility of eliminating the current deficit as well as benefitting from the goodwill and exposure that a successful football program can bring, something that the university appears not to be taking into account in its analysis. No one needs to accept that deficits, if Tulane stays the course in Div. 1-A, are an immutable fact of life. I certainly don't. On the other hand, if Tulane changes, then deficits will definitely be an immutable fact along with a poorer relationship between the school and alumni and a poorer relationship between the school and the local community. ***** Dear President Cowen, We are writing in support of the Tulane University Swimming and Diving team. Furthermore, we strongly support keeping Tulane as a Division 1A Institution. Our daughter recently signed a National Letter of Intent to attend Tulane. She chose Tulane over several other schools because of the fine academic and athletic reputation of Tulane. Tulane has many reasons to be proud of its success in athletics. The fact that Tulane has been able to successfully compete in Division 1A and at the same time have one of the highest graduation rates for student athletes speaks volumes to the overall success of the various athletic teams and the University as a whole. Certainly the swimming and diving program will contribute in a very positive manner. By all accounts, the coaches have recruited an outstanding group of student athletes. They will compete favorably both in the classroom and in the pool. They will be a fine addition to the University. I have read the transcripts of the recent forums and several of the letters you have received. There seems to be overwhelming support to continue competing at the Division 1A level. You and the Board of Trustees, of course, must weigh the costs and benefits of remaining in Division 1A. Comparisons have been made of other institutions and I am not sure how constructive those comparisons have been or can be. Tulane is a unique institution. Any prudent evaluation must take into account the impact that moving out of Division 1A would have on future student recruitment and the support of the alumni network. The fine reputation of the University nationally is a great source of pride for the student body, faculty, staff, and alumni. The UniversityÕs reputation is due, in no small part, to its participation in Division 1A athletics. It is our understanding that the Athletic Department will present a long-range plan that calls for continuation in Division 1A and addresses the department budget. We hope that this plan will be given serious consideration and that the department will be given an opportunity to move forward as proposed. ***** Dear President Cowen and members of the athletic review committee: I am writing to you to voice my support for Tulane staying a Division IA school. When my daughter narrowed her abundant list of perspective colleges down to twelve, Tulane was included when she found out there was going to be a women’s swim team this fall. When we visited last fall, she found Tulane had everything she was looking for - the perfect combination of academics, athletics, atmosphere, and size. When we returned home, that same evening was the first EMAIL from Coach Irle and 9 days later my daughter was asked to swim for Tulane. The combination of both Academic and Athletic money available made Tulane her most viable option. We went from turmoil about which schools to apply to to submitting an early decision application to Tulane. With the swimming scholarship and the addition of an academic scholarship, my daughter, husband, and I just knew it was meant to be. Thirteen years of swimming 46 48 weeks of the year and at the same time maintaining a 4.0+ average in school has culminated with the chance to go to Tulane University!! What more could she want? A change to continue her dreams at Tulane by it staying a Division IA school. When we were sent an application to join the TAF, the check and application were in the mail the next day. How could we not join and support the university that was going to give our daughter everything she dreamed of? My husband and I can hardly wait for the swim schedule to come out to make plans to attend all the meets that we possibly can!! All the athletes I know (and yes, most of them are swimmers) are dedicated, disciplined individuals with very high standards in all aspects of their lives. They have learned time management, how to handle the thrill of success and the disappointment of defeat, social skills, how to be a “team” player, and many other things by not only going to school but by combining academics with athletics. I believe Tulane would miss out on a lot of just the kind of students it desires by not staying a Division IA school. We will be new to Tulane and would like to have the chance to work with others to make it work and keep Tulane a Division IA school - A chance to keep Tulane an institution of learning both in the classroom and on the playing field!! Our prayers are with you as work hard to come up with a plan for Tulane and we sincerely hope that plan includes keeping Tulane a Division IA school. ***** There is absolutely no doubt that in every way save one, i.e., direct costs-versus-revenues, Division 1 athletics at Tulane is already succeeding. The teams win. The athletes excel in the classroom as well as on the playing field. Tremendous goodwill is created for the university. Diversity is promoted directly and indirectly. Certainly there are a few in the Tulane community (as indeed is the case for many universities) who disfavor Division 1 athletics, but for the overwhelming majority Tulane's proud tradition in Division 1 and continued competition at that level is a source of great pride and an important part of the fabric of their lives. Even financially, if the big picture is viewed, Division 1 athletics and 1A football are undoubtedly overall assets rather than liabilities. I am frankly surprised that a Board as learned as Tulane's would focus a financial evaluation solely on costs-versus-revenues within this one discrete part of the university without examining and attempting to quantify the financial effect Division 1 has for the university overall and the probable effect a move down would have on the university overall. For whatever reason, however, and I will assume that reason is benign, it appears that the sole focus is on costs-versus-revenues. That is a legitimate concern, but Tulane alums and fans are stepping forward to address that concern as never before. The Board wants proof; it is getting proof. The leadership of the university and the ad hoc committee cannot help but be aware of the financial support and pledges pouring in. The ad hoc committee and the university's ultimate leader, the president, need to step forward now, acknowledge that the process to correct the one short-coming of an otherwise model Division 1 program has been initiated and is indeed ahead of schedule, and get on board to assist in making that process work. The "wait and see" approach is no longer appropriate or viable. What was supposed to be the necessary showing has now been shown. If the ad hoc committee and the administration truly was only concerned about the money aspect, they should reaffirm, publicly and immediately, the commitment of the Board and the administration to Division 1 athletics and 1A football in line with a financial recovery plan that has taken off and is working. To wait or to equivocate at this point in time after the events of the past few weeks would be unfortunate and very damaging. ***** I understand that Tulane has formed an ad hoc committee of the Board of Trustees that may consider lowering the NCAA division in which the Swimming and Diving program would compete. I firmly believe that the only viable competitive environment for this Tulane athletic program is within NCAA Division 1-A. I am a contributor to the Tulane Athletics Fund. I am a former member of the 1964-67 Tulane men's swimming team and to my knowledge, the only Tulane swimmer selected to the NCAA All American Swimming Team. I have coached the sport for years and I continue to compete in U.S. Masters Swimming events. This experience gives me a unique perspective with which to evaluate the impact of changing the NCAA Division for the Tulane program. The student athlete is highly motivated and results oriented. The goals for which a swimmer works so diligently are set at an early age and they strive for ten or more years to reach them. When their goals include an academic institution with the reputation of Tulane University, they are truly special. They do not understand fear of failure nor do they recognize the statistical probabilities of winning a national championship. To be the best is their reality and that includes their education and ensuing professional life. A swimmer competes as part of a team yet they compete on an individual basis. The elite swimmer will not eliminate themselves from the competition for that NCAA Division 1-A championship simply through their choice of a university. They will go somewhere besides Tulane and take with them their academic prowess, leadership qualities and strength of character. The student body could also react to this potential change. In 1965, I qualified for the NCAA Championship and was informed that the university would not send me due to budget limitations. The residents of my dormitory and my fraternity undertook a fundraising program that produced the necessary funds and the story was published in the newspaper. The student body has a strong sense of fair play. Many attend Tulane in part because they have frequently seen Tulane athletics highlighted in the media as only an NCAA Division 1-A school can be and where Tulane's academic standing is always noted. This is a critical time for the fledgling Women's Swimming and Diving program. The enthusiasm and pride being exhibited by the staff and their new recruits is fragile. Publicity as the result of changing NCAA division will have a long-term effect on recruiting and the quality of this new program. I urge you to support NCAA Division 1-A for the Swimming and Diving program that will keep Tulane as a viable choice for some of the most outstanding student-athletes in the country. ***** Despite what some "faculty" members say, dropping down to Division III will do absolutely nothing to help Tulane reach its full academic potential. To even think that it would is absurd. ***** Recently, I was informed that the Tulane's Athletic Department might be degraded to Division III athletics. Earlier in the year I talked with the swimming and diving head coach, Daniella Irle about volunteer coaching. I am a chemistry graduate student at Tulane and a swimmer of more than 10 years. I swam for Davidson College's Division I swimming program for 4 years. My experience with college swimming is one that I will never forget because I had the opportunity to swim schools such as Virginia Tech and Duke. The athletes that go to Division I schools are ELITE athletes in every manner of the term. Their competitive nature on the playing field is not left there. They take that innate nature to achieve into the classroom and many often volunteer to help the community. If you look at the grade point averages of most student-athletes, they are well above the norm. These academic achievement can be acknowledged through the All-American award as well as data given to US! News & World Report. Many high school students look to this report for their initial guidance in picking colleges. Student athletes are no different. However, they also look at the athletic prgram in conjunction with the academic reputation of a school. For those athletes who have talent and ambition, a Division I school is where they will apply to. Making Tulane a Division III school labels removes the label that attracts so much attention. The baseball team will not attract star athletes that lead to wins over LSU. The tennis team will not attract athletes that win conference championships and I know for certain that swimmers will look at schools like Duke and Ivey Leagues so they will experience the most competitive athletic and academic experience available. I believe Tulane's Athletic Department strives for excellence in all areas. By decreasing it to Division III, Tulane will not get the FREE televised exposure when teams go to championship. Often commentat! ors will say something about star athletes, expecially about academic achievement. How can Tulane pass this sort of exposure up so easily? I don't think we can. As a graduate student, I spend much of my time in lab, but swimming will always be a part of my life. I give back to my alma mater and I plan to give as much as I can to Tulane's athletic department as well. Athletics teach students many skills that are important later in life (i.e. time management, punctuality, organization and responsibility). When any student athlete goes on an away trip, they represent their school. These attributes that I just mentioned are required to achieve goals. Tulane produces well rounded, responsible individuals and the most competitive athletic program available only enhances these attributes that go on to represent the school even after the students years on campus. I hope that Tulane will not make it Division III. It would be a big mistake and disappointment to the school, but moreso to the students who are and already committed to come in the! fall. ***** If the Mathematics, Chemistry, or Political Science Department ran an annual deficit of $5 - 9 million, people would be fired and the programs scaled back immensely. Sadly, this is not the case with the Athletics Department. Why can they get away with it? They shouldn't; in my mind, they're robbing Tulane blind and programs need to be phased back for the department to become financially solvable. As a current student at Tulane University, I find it shameful that the Board of Administrators has not yet looked at the bottomless money pit that is Athletics. As people have previously written in to talk@tulane.edu, it has never made a difference who the President of the University was …. Longenecker, Hackney, or Kelly…the Athletics Department has consistently run a deficit which has tremendously grown over time. This history is also true with the Athletics Director. While I'm sure Rick Dickson is a nice guy, he has the same problem that Sandy Barbour and other before her have faced. Put simply, Tulane Athletics loses money. When a tradeoff has to be made between funding money losing teams or funding world-leading academics, which would you choose? I wholeheartedly support academics over sports. The main consensus the Board should reach is that the primary purpose for an institution of higher learning is academics and not athletics. It is my hope that someone re-instills this belief at Tulane University. |