For club sports, a slow process of reform

Close to two months after students first voiced concerns about the University's club sports program, singling out issues with funding, poor facilities and personnel, administrators say they are responding to student criticism and taking steps to fix the problem.

"The University is addressing the allocation of more financial resources toward sport clubs including a sport club endowment component in the upcoming campaign," said David Leach, associate director of athletics for campus recreation, referring to Nassau Hall's forthcoming multi-billion dollar capital campaign.

President Tilghman agreed that help is on the way, but cautioned that the situation will not be remedied overnight.

"It would be highly unusual for something to have been resolved in this length of time, as it would take the Priorities Committee to designate this as a high priority for the next budget year," Tilghman said in an email, referring to the University committee that allocates funding for programs.

Students' concerns were first highlighted in an Oct. 13 article in The Daily Princetonian. One of the chief complaints was that the administrator in charge of club sports had built up animosity toward students because of an alleged brash style. They also pointed to what they said was a crippling lack of funding for their programs.

Rob Biederman '08, who served on the Priorities Committee (PRICOM) last year and was yesterday elected USG president, made club sports funding one of the signature issues of his campaign. "A no-brainer if there ever was one," Biederman says in a campaign statement posted on his website.

Biederman backed the idea of a second University employee to assist the current administrator, Cristine McCarthy, in performing her duties — an idea proposed by students and athletics officials. "[T]he University needs to hire a second full-time employee to manage one of these programs," he said.

McCarthy agreed, saying change is on the way. "The position is scheduled to be split into two jobs," she said in a recent email. "I believe this change will be aligned by the summer."

In addition to the splitting of McCarthy's position, the Office of Campus Recreation has attempted to give students more input in the running of the program. This follows charges that the office was not receptive to student concerns.

On Nov. 7, an open forum was held in Dillon Library where students could offer ideas and voice their opinions about club sports. Another forum is scheduled for Dec. 7. Meetings like this could also help bridge the communication gap between students and the office, administrators said.

"I have made efforts to improve communication between sport club participants and the Office of Campus Recreation," Leach said. "I have met with a representative [from] the sport club executive board to address issues raised in the article and begin the process of collaboration to achieve our shared goals."

Senior Freddie Flaxman, co-captain of the men's club basketball team and an advocate for program reform, emphasized that the open forum meeting was useful in implementing a policy he knew had existed all along.

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"[There was] always an implicit understanding that captains could just walk into the office and talk to whoever they wanted to," Flaxman said. "People may have been unaware of that. [The meeting] was publicizing standard practice."

McCarthy also noted that students should always feel comfortable talking to the personnel in the Office of Campus Recreation.

"The most important thing we can do is talk and listen to students," McCarthy said. "Currently, the office has offered weekly meetings to each club to allow them more one-on-one time. Hopefully, this enables clubs the opportunity to come ask for help and guidance with any questions or issues they have."

Insofar as other reforms are concerned, Biederman cautioned that changes may not come immediately since PRICOM has yet to allocate the necessary funding. "[The request] would come in the fall of a year, and if approved, would take effect the following academic year," he said.

Though club sports may not see drastic changes within the next year, Leach explained that the Office of Campus Recreation has been taking steps to help teams.

"The travel initiative fund has increased in the past year through the Athletic Department support," Leach said. "[Also], the championship initiative fund has increased over the past year with the assistance of the vice president for campus life."

One of the most drastic changes planned within the next few years is the expansion and renovation of Dillon Gym. Flaxman noted that this building project would remedy many of the program's current troubles.

"If Dillon gets renovated and expanded, it solves about 90 percent of the problems," Flaxman said. "[It] solves issues of space and practice timing [for teams], and will provide amenities [such as] nicer facilities, a snack bar and a place for teams to congregate. It also erases some funding issues in terms of not having to pay for features that the new Dillon could have."

The start date for the Dillon Gym renovation, which could vastly increase the space that each sport could use for practices, has yet to be determined.

Flaxman added, however, that while the club sports program has been generating new ideas, the University — PRICOM, specifically — must respond.

"It is unreasonable to ask the Athletic Department [for money] since there are so many varsity sports," Flaxman said. "The burden lies on the Priorities Committee to fill the gap in funding for students in an activity that is very popular."