James Madison University joins Rutgers and others

[campb1pr]

From: James Madison University

Date: September 29, 2006

Today the Board of Visitors made a difficult, but necessary decision to bring the university's intercollegiate athletics program into compliance with the proportionality requirement of Title IX. Their decision was necessary because our program is now substantiality out of compliance. It was difficult because the consequence of the decision is the elimination of seven men's sports and three women's sports. To ensure you have accurate information concerning the Board's action, the following is provided:

James Madison University's Board of Visitors voted today to approve a plan to bring the JMU Athletics program into compliance with Title IX. The plan will take effect July 1, 2007, when the following varsity teams will be eliminated:

Men's
Archery
Cross Country
Gymnastics
Indoor Track
Outdoor Track
Swimming
Wrestling

Women's
Archery
Fencing
Gymnastics

With 28 varsity teams, the JMU Athletics program ties for the rank of seventh in terms of the number of teams among all 327 Division I schools nationally.

"The JMU Athletics program is unusually large for a public university of our size," said Joseph Damico, rector of the JMU Board of Visitors. "With so many teams we faced an insurmountable challenge coming into compliance with Title IX. Fundamentally, that is why the Board voted today for this plan."

The proportionality requirements of Title IX mandate that collegiate athletics programs mirror each school's undergraduate population in terms of gender. As of the fall semester 2006, JMU's proportions place it fundamentally out of compliance with federal law:


Overall Enrollment
61% Female - 39% Male

Athletics Participation
50.7% Female - 49.3% Male

Jeff Bourne, JMU athletics director, said, "We explored every avenue in search of an alternative to this action. Lamar Daniel, a well-known consultant on Title IX compliance, has worked closely with us and he believes that this plan is our most viable alternative for reaching compliance with Title IX."

Once this plan is fully implemented, total participation in athletics will move to 61 percent female and 39 percent male, in alignment with current student enrollment. The university will then have 18 intercollegiate sports:

Men's
Baseball
Basketball
Football
Golf
Soccer
Tennis

Women's
Basketball
Cross Country
Field Hockey
Golf
Lacrosse
Soccer
Softball
Swimming
Tennis
Track, Indoor
Track, Outdoor
Volleyball

This decision affects 144 student-athletes currently participating in these sports, as well as three full-time and eight part-time coaches. "Now that the Board has voted to enact this plan, our main concern is with our affected student-athletes and coaches," said Bourne. "We are taking great care to preserve the financial guarantees already made to our student-athletes. If you are a student-athlete on an effected team and you are receiving a scholarship, you will continue to receive that scholarship until you graduate."

Currently, eight students on the rosters of the 10 affected teams receive a total of $13,500 in scholarships. Access to sports-medicine and academic-advising programs also will be available. Any affected student-athletes who decide to transfer to another program will be provided with full assistance regarding the transfer process. Affected coaches will receive severance packages appropriate to the university's policies and procedures.

All of the financial resources recovered from the implementation of this plan will be redirected to provide the full complement of NCAA scholarships for women's golf, tennis and swimming. Partial scholarship funding will return to men's golf and tennis, with a plan to enhance to full funding by 2011.

Visit http://media.jmu.edu after 5:00 p.m. E.S.T. to view a press conference on this issue.

[alewive]

Wow. Terrible news. Did anyone see this coming? Though I've read the threads about Rutgers, what "and others" are you referencing? How many NCAA programs have been dropped or are at risk?

[Mr Epee]

Did anyone see this coming?

Probably everyone who has been paying attention to trends in NCAA programs.

While I'm sure it's disappointing to those close to the program, to call it surprising would be naive.

It's more surprising when a school faces program cuts, and decides to keep fencing.

[chefencer]

Well, Mr. Campbell that sucks for your new, albeit temporary, coaching position...bummer.

[noodle]

usacfc.clubs++;

[Craig]

So, to increase women's athletic participation they remove women's programs?

Must be that new math.

[luv2fence]

These cuts seem to be a trend; the causes
are Title IX and others that are not clear.

Permit some brain-storming; you guys
might think of something better.
Why not do an end-run around the official
college sports programs.

Alternatives.
1)College Clubs. Many colleges have these, now.
2)Close-to-College clubs.
Actively recruit college students that are
athletic. Many athletes retire when they
leave high school; more and more with title IX.

USFA could make a category of
"college student club"; and they could
compete in their own league, like a
mini-NCAA.

luv2fence

[noodle]

These cuts seem to be a trend; the causes
are Title IX and others that are not clear.

Permit some brain-storming; you guys
might think of something better.
Why not do an end-run around the official
college sports programs.

Alternatives.
1)College Clubs. Many colleges have these, now.
2)Close-to-College clubs.
Actively recruit college students that are
athletic. Many athletes retire when they
leave high school; more and more with title IX.

USFA could make a category of
"college student club"; and they could
compete in their own league, like a
mini-NCAA.

luv2fence

you mean, like how they already do?

http://www.usacfc.org

[luv2fence]

Noodle,
It is good to know they have started the
US Association of Collegiate Fencing Clubs.

There are so many good male athletes that
are leaving high school programs. Some are
cut, some are injured, some graduate.

They would be naturals for USACFC or a club
that has both rec and elite programs.
I saw one such athlete start a fencing program;
he accepted the fencing style/disipline and he
became very good very fast; it was scary.

I do not know if women athletes parallel this,
because I have never followed girls HS sports.
Maybe there is a big potential there also.

luv2fence

[Mr Epee]

Noodle,
It is good to know they have started the
US Association of Collegiate Fencing Clubs.

There are so many good male athletes that
are leaving high school programs. Some are
cut, some are injured, some graduate.

They would be naturals for USACFC or a club
that has both rec and elite programs.
I saw one such athlete start a fencing program;
he accepted the fencing style/disipline and he
became very good very fast; it was scary.

I do not know if women athletes parallel this,
because I have never followed girls HS sports.
Maybe there is a big potential there also.

luv2fence

Is there a special reason that you are so specificaly stupid?

Or is there a pool?

We would like to know?

[rcmatthews]

Isn't Title IX great? Just look at how it enhances the opportunities for women in sports.