Letters to the Editor (Editorial Policies)
Posted on October 5, 2006

Sportsmen (and women) sound off on Title IX

It’s good to see that the copy-and-paste function is alive and well at The Breeze. Monday’s front-page article on Title IX was incredibly disappointing; there’s no reason a story that broke Friday couldn’t have had a little independent research or a few more interviews outside of the university’s press release. In fact, both of your news editors were sent e-mails bringing a few important points to their attention on Saturday in the express hope that The Breeze would do its duty to the students it represents and tell the complete story. Alas, the only piece concerning Friday’s decision that was worth reading was the SAAC’s letter to the editor. Nowhere in Monday’s paper was the fact that there are alternative avenues to Title IX compliance available; in fact, it would seem no one even bothered to look up the law itself. The main piece didn’t mention the disrespectful manner in which the athletes losing varsity status were treated, something that could have been accomplished with one or two phone calls. There was also no mention of the decision in the sports section; this is the most important thing to happen to JMU athletes in years, and the sports editor didn’t feel it warranted coverage? Overall, I think your staff made it clear that they are a mouthpiece for the administration first, and a student newspaper second.

Amy McAleese, junior political science major, JMU archery team

I believe the only word that can be said of the JMU athletics department Friday afternoon is “despicable.” Here is a quick rundown of how these teams were informed of their dismissal from the JMU athletics program: Around 2:15 p.m. the affected coaches were called by a member of compliance and told to meet at the Convocation Center by 2:45 p.m., and also to call all their athletes to have them at the Convocation Center at 3 p.m. for an immediate meeting. The coaches, with barely any time to call their entire roster, ensured that many of the athletes would not be present.  At 2:45 p.m., with two cops present at the meeting, the coaches were told that their programs were going to be cut. Strolling from that meeting, the assistant athletic director, along with the police, walked in front of my 144 fellow athletes and announced the dismissal of these participatory sports. The fact that not even the athletic director who had been “eating and breathing this decision” obviously lacked the guts to speak his decision in front of his athletes who he claims to care so much about. The handling of this decision is a disgrace to both the administration, the Board of Visitors, the athletic department, and most importantly, the 144 athletes and 11 coaches who were told in 20 minutes that their blood, sweat and tears were simply not enough.

Andrew Robarge , senior history and education major, JMU wrestling team

As a cross-country and track runner at James Madison University, I would like to thank the JMU student body for the support we have felt from you these past few days. The news has come as a blow not just to us athletes affected, but to the whole JMU community. Teams are pretty much in shock right now. Cross-country is just one of the sports that are reeling from this. Our archery team is one of the best teams in the nation. The members of that team will be representing the United States in the Olympics in the not-too-distant future.

Swimming and diving was picked preseason to contend for the conference championship. Wrestling has been making steady advancement after it lost its funding. And gymnastics was one of the few teams left in the nation. Cross-country runners do not often gain any attention outside of the small community of runners. Same with these other sports. We are not doing these sports for money; like it is said on the JMU Web site, only eight athletes out of the 144 are receiving scholarships.

We are doing these sports for the love of the sport. I did not run 80-plus miles a week throughout this summer for the chance at some multi-million dollar sports deal down the road. I and every other affected athlete have trained for the team and tried to become better athletes. There are few times where one can find 14 twenty-something male athletes bawling their eyes out, but such was the case on our bus on the way back from Lehigh. These programs are some of the most storied and accomplished programs that the university possesses. We have been proud throughout our time here at James Madison to represent this school; we will be proud to represent it for the remainder of this year. 

Andrew Waring, junior history major, co-captain, JMU cross-country team