The University should re-evaluate the "number and mix" of varsity sports programs to save money and improve athletes' experiences, the athletics subcommittee of the Organizational Review Committee recommended to President Ruth Simmons in its report released last week.
The subcommittee was one of the 12 review committee teams charged last spring with finding ways to save the University $14 million. The team also proposed recreation fees for students, faculty and staff after the opening the new Nelson Fitness Center.
The athletics team was the only subcommittee not to meet its savings goal, according to the Organizational Review Committee report.
"If we're going to offer a varsity sport, we should do that correctly, with all the protections that students should have for competing in a sport," Simmons said. "That's the wake-up call for us, to face up to the fact that we simply don't have the resources to mount the number of team sports that we offer."
No cuts are finalized yet, Vice President for Campus Life and Student Services Margaret Klawunn wrote in an e-mail to The Herald.
"It is not definite that a reduction will be made, although we think it is possible," Klawunn wrote. "No teams have been identified and no timeline has been established."
The committee "felt that any consideration of a reduction to the varsity program required more time and a process that would include coaches and student athletes," Klawunn wrote.
The athletics team recommended a process to look at whether the University should reduce its number of varsity teams. Brown offers 37 varsity sports, but the Department of Athletics has the smallest budget and staff of any athletic department in the Ivy League, Klawunn said.
Despite having the lowest budget in athletics, the University has the "third largest commitment to Division I sports in the League," according to the executive summary of the review committee report.
When asked how they would react if their teams were to be cut, student athletes expressed shock and dismay.
"I don't think that's even fathomable," said football co-captain Jimmy Develin '10. "Football is everything to me."
"It would be devastating to me," said Jordan Pietrus '10, tri-captain of the ice hockey team.
Other student-athletes said that sports are an integral part of their experience at Brown.
"I'd say that my experience with the equestrian team has been one of my favorite things about going here and definitely one of the things that will keep me feeling tied to the University in the years to come," wrote Elizabeth Giliberti '10 in an e-mail to The Herald.
Another rider, Marissa Fuerst '12, wrote, "This sport is unique and interesting. Our team has overwhelming alumni support, and we work just as hard as many other Brown athletes."
Pietrus said that — if his sport were cut and he were an underclassman — he would "strongly, strongly consider transferring to other schools."
Giliberti wrote that eliminating a team could affect admissions.
A "large percentage of the student body is in some way involved with Brown athletics and perhaps a great percentage of those people based their decision about where to apply … based on the expectation of being part of that program at Brown," Giliberti wrote.
The Organizational Review Committee report, with its savings goals and recommendations, was discussed Tuesday at the Brown University Community Council meeting, a forum for students, faculty and other members of the University community.
Athletics were not mentioned until the question-and-answer session near the end of the meeting.
At the council meeting, Klawunn — weighing the athletic program's needs and the ability of the University to financially support the program — recommended a fee for athletes which would prevent the University from having to make "deeper cuts."
Simmons said at the meeting that discussions for the athletics program will continue to next year.
— With additional reporting by Alex Bell
