A delicate line
As the NCAA reviews its guidelines on pregnant athletes, Syracuse clarifies its policy by putting it in writing
By Zach Schonbrun
Posted: 10/1/07, 11:12 PM EST Section: Sports
|
With pregnancy becoming a national issue in collegiate athletics, SU found itself in the mix last April when The Daily Orange first reported that Goodwin, then a junior, delivered Jordin just two months after playing her final game of the season for the Orange women's basketball team.
At the time, Syracuse athletics had nothing in writing pertaining to pregnant athletes regarding treatment, care or scholarship. SU maintains a blanket policy for all athletes stating that no medical condition shall result in an athlete losing his or her scholarship.
During the summer, the administration added text into its 2007-08 Student-Athlete Policy Manual regarding athletes and pregnancy. The additional passages ensure athletes will keep their scholarship for that current year, but subsequent years will be decided at the discretion of the sport's head coach. The policy also outlines when a student may return to action and when she must inform her coach about her situation.
The NCAA is currently in the midst of reviewing its policy on pregnant athletes following reports that some athletes had been forced to choose between losing their scholarships and having an abortion. On Sept. 11, the NCAA met with its subcommittee on financial aid, which in July recommended legislation prohibiting any reducing or canceling aid to athletes for any injury, illness or medical condition. Currently, NCAA Division I Bylaw 15.3.4.3 prohibits reduction or cancellation of financial aid based on athletic ability and on-the-field injury.
The NCAA also has a stipulation for a one-year extension to its five years of eligibility for reasons of pregnancy.
Syracuse maintains it has never taken a scholarship away from an athlete for pregnancy reasons and cases where administrations at other schools have are isolated and exceptional. But an informal survey of female Syracuse athletes by The Daily Orange showed that most do not know what would happen to their financial aid if they became either injured or pregnant.
Be the first to comment on this story