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Show 14 OPINION (CONTINUED) A Decoding the world of intercollegiate athletics FATHOM CROTEAU CONTRIBUTOR OP-E- D To say that things are changing at Westminster would be an understatement. In the beginning, this story was supposed to be a simple one about what transitioning to a Division II NCAA school really means. The format seemed really cut and dry: interview a few sources and get some student opinion. But that model depends heavily on the availability of information and a willingness to talk, two things that I found were severely lacking. All of this research just begged more questions, from myself as well as my peers. Many people would only comment on the condition that their names wouldnt be included. Others rejoiced at the opportunity to openly air their disapproval with institutional choices. The questions about NCAA and Division II membership are only the proverbial tip of the iceberg in a sea of unanswered questions, institutional invisibility and speculation. In February, Westminster submitted an application to be approved to begin the membership application process for acceptance to Division II of the National College Athletics Association (NCAA). According to the NCAA website, Division II is comprised of 300 NCAA colleges and universities that provide thousands of student-athlete- s the opportunity to compete at a high level of scholarship athletics while excelling in the classroom and fully engaging in the broader campus experience. The NCAA cites a philosophy with an emphasis on balance between competitive sports and excellent academic performance as the core of the entire association. That philosophy aligns very closely with the philosophy that Westminster already abides by, said Shay Wyatt, director of three-year-lo- ng athletics. The institution sees several benefits in becoming a member school of Division II, both for students and the college as a whole. The benefit to students sits in the unification of the sports conferences. This would allow for a majority of our sports programs to be affiliated with one conference, meaning that they would all have common opponents, Wyatt said. Wyatt also said that an added benefit of most programs being affiliated with one conference is that there would be a more robust conference schedule that would ultimately allow for more efficient and affordable travel. Not to mention the forecasted decrease in the amount of missed classes for student athletes. However, some students arent convinced that those projected benefits are really worth the investment. In fact, they dont think that is the reason for the transition at all. Among the students who requested to remain anonymous, several of them cited the recent implementation of Title IX as an attempt to better the chances of being approved for application. I think its ridiculous, its a waste of money, said a student who requested anonymity. The only reason that we are even pushing the title nine stuff is because thats why we had to reapply. That sentiment echoed through every conversation that was facilitated with students. Some students have managed to avoid the frenzy, though. I live with a few athletes and so I know that they are excited for the opportunity to compete at a higher level, said Tessa Eihausen, senior chemistry major. But I really dont know much more than that. I do my best to stay away from the rumors because I dont know enough to tell fact from fiction at this point. The questions I was asking didnt seem to get any real answers, so I started asking different ones, but found quickly that even that approach was just like treading water. After asking and asking, I was left with a similar response from most people: I dont know how much but I am pretty sure its a few where to go, said one of the anonymous many. There are the also heard the wild stories about the true nature of Division II cookie-cuttstatements that the school releases for everyone to see, but they always kinda miss the key thing- - why it actually matters to the students. When we ask, we are told that its privileged information or membership, but added that, much like everyone else, the actual cost is a mystery and it looks like it will continue to be million. what that means for the rest of us who arent athletes. A small campus, like any other close-kn- it community, can be a breeding ground for rumors and the rumors at Westminster v It was beginning to seem that many students who are opposed to the push for affiliation with Division II conferences are opposed because of an assumption that it is secretly code for beefing up the athletic department. Furthermore, the idea that the school is not just spending, but wasting an exorbitant amount of money is only one of several reasons being cited for the vehement opposition. The assumptions about these changes seem to be more damning than the assumed benefits of the programs. In place of answers, we have speculations and assumptions that satisfy the curiosity. The assumptions have become personal. Do we really need more special treatment for athletes? bellowed several students when simply asked, What do you know about the NCAA transition? The responses seemed almost scripted, but when I pushed for more feedback, most people shrugged it off and continued their seething reviews of the administrations choices. There has to be more to the story though. Westminster is a community of thinkers and problem-solver- s, but we are stuck in a haze of confusion and uncertainty. A spiral of silence following a series of large institutional transitions. I dont really know official er something like that. So no, I dont think we should be a Division II school because no one has taken the time to explain have certainly flourished. Despite the rampant murmurs of deceit and mismanagement, it is hard to deny the positive impact that Division II membership could have on Westminster. Not only would it decrease travel time and cost, it would unify the competition circuit for sports programs. Division II membership would also provide an avenue for greater institutional awareness and efforts, according to Shay Wyatt. Even so, not all students agree with that choice either. We just arent a sports school, said Ebert Morales, senior communication major. We are a school focused on academics. Westminster is a small, private liberal arts school whose focus has been on having an academically challenging learning environment for students who have worked hard to get here.Sports have their place in the school as a unifying identity and social bond, but they arent the focus here, nor should they be. Seeking a more competitive level of sports wont help anyone other than a very small handful of athletic students but at an assumed financial cost of the general student body. Morales admits that he has student-recruitme- nt one. Westminster needs to focus on more important things right now than sports and needs to be 100 percent transparent on what its doing, Morales said. I never expected that a topic that just about everyone has an opinion on would be so difficult to report on, or that I would hear my fellow students perpetuate unverified information so freely. But, I also didnt expect to hit so many roadblocks with staff, faculty and administration. As questions continued to outnumber the answers and solutions, my thoughts began to mirror my peers. Why is no one talking about this, while simultaneously everyone has something to say? Divided opinions and missing information have made for very compelling research, but have made for a stalemate in answering the question about what all of this means for student athletes and nonathletes alike. The problem isnt favoring athletes over other student communities. Its access to information and a lack of student input when it comes to the decision making process. My goal was to shine some fight on the confusion of the NCAA application, but instead, I found that the lack of clarity reaches much deeper than the surface of sports conference affiliation. I cant say whether I support or oppose the transition, because like my peers, I couldnt find enough information. I can say though, that anything that will help my fellow Griffins is most likely a positive thing. |