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The Daily OrangeSA | Canceled swim program gets assembly's support
By Paige Dearing
Posted: 9/25/07, 12:28 AM EST Section: News
The Nottingham pool has hosted a past Big East Championship meet.
Yet administrators proposed that $40 million would be needed in order to create a sufficient facility for the swimming and diving programs on campus.
The cost of a new swimming facility varies anywhere from University of Tennessee at Knoxville's $17 million to Rochester Institute of Technology's $21 million, according to the athletes' presentation.
There were plans to construct "phase two" of Goldstein Recreation Center until the last athletics director stepped down, Gollands said. The center would have cost $14 million and would have had a 50-meter pool in addition to other services.
The swim team has proposed a solution if a new facility is the only cause of their cancellation.
"We have numerous amounts of alumni corporations that have approached us, and likewise approached the administration, willing to pledge to keep the swim team going - even if it's for three years or five years after that," Gollands said. Proposals to become self-sustained could be formed in that extra time, he added.
"We are able to fund operation cost, coaches' salaries, etc. It's just that we have not been given the permission to," he said. "It's frustrating when you do have the money and you know you could be a team."
No representatives from the SU Athletics Department attended the meeting. SA President Ryan Kelly verbally notified Senior Associate Director of Athletics Henry Wildhack of the swim presentation two weeks ago and sent an e-mail reminder this past week.
"Dr. Gross called me this morning to let me know he could not make the meeting today," Kelly said.
The cancellation of the SU swim program was leaked and published in The Post-Standard on May 31.
"We had no formal contact with the administration until later that morning when they proceeded to call us after the leak was reported in the newspaper," Ellis said.
SA member Bill Markt lived with a swim team member last year on South Campus and has been aware of the situation since the summer.
Yet administrators proposed that $40 million would be needed in order to create a sufficient facility for the swimming and diving programs on campus.
The cost of a new swimming facility varies anywhere from University of Tennessee at Knoxville's $17 million to Rochester Institute of Technology's $21 million, according to the athletes' presentation.
There were plans to construct "phase two" of Goldstein Recreation Center until the last athletics director stepped down, Gollands said. The center would have cost $14 million and would have had a 50-meter pool in addition to other services.
The swim team has proposed a solution if a new facility is the only cause of their cancellation.
"We have numerous amounts of alumni corporations that have approached us, and likewise approached the administration, willing to pledge to keep the swim team going - even if it's for three years or five years after that," Gollands said. Proposals to become self-sustained could be formed in that extra time, he added.
"We are able to fund operation cost, coaches' salaries, etc. It's just that we have not been given the permission to," he said. "It's frustrating when you do have the money and you know you could be a team."
No representatives from the SU Athletics Department attended the meeting. SA President Ryan Kelly verbally notified Senior Associate Director of Athletics Henry Wildhack of the swim presentation two weeks ago and sent an e-mail reminder this past week.
"Dr. Gross called me this morning to let me know he could not make the meeting today," Kelly said.
The cancellation of the SU swim program was leaked and published in The Post-Standard on May 31.
"We had no formal contact with the administration until later that morning when they proceeded to call us after the leak was reported in the newspaper," Ellis said.
SA member Bill Markt lived with a swim team member last year on South Campus and has been aware of the situation since the summer.
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 4
Deborah Manning
posted 9/25/07 @ 8:07 AM EST
I cannot believe the arrogance of the athletic department not to have a representative attending the meeting AND to have the swim/dive team already placed in the "retired" sports when they have one year remaining is unacceptable. (Continued…)
Dominic
posted 9/25/07 @ 8:32 AM EST
It's hard to put a finger on one good thing that has happened since Dr. Gross stepped on campus. He's now hijacked the athletic department against the wishes of the student body and alumni, and he has no desire to hear any alternatives to his way. (Continued…)
Liz Fuselier
posted 9/25/07 @ 10:17 AM EST
A long athletic and academic tradition is enough to maintain the swimming/diving programs at S.U..Dr. Gross has chosen to ignore the current and past student athletes by failing to attend events and meetings. (Continued…)
Helen Bayly
posted 9/25/07 @ 10:52 AM EST
Swimming/Diving has brought credit and honor to Syracuse University for almost a century....with champions and championships galore, yet even more significantly, outstanding alumni themelves in national and world leadership positions. (Continued…)
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