Can we save UD Men’s Track and Field and XC programs?
Title IX is for gender equality enforced by the threat of lawsuits and control of federal funds to the university. Another source of funding is from the taxpayers of State of Delaware.
Can we work with the Governor and the State Legislature of Delaware to find a solution?
Governor Jack Markell is an Ex-Officio member of the UD Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees made the decision to axe the programs. The State Legislature votes for funding for UD.
My question to Governor Markell is:
“As an Ex-Officio member of the UD Board of Trustees and Governor of the State of Delaware are you willing to help save the UD Men’s Track and Field and XC programs and extend their 100 years of tradition?”
Ending the programs has an impact on the entire state, on the young athletes who compete and aspire to go to UD, on their family, friends, supporters, and coaches in high school. UD track and field programs are a resource for high school coaches and athletes all over the state. This is bigger than just the members of the track team, this affects the 1,000’s of young athletes now and in the future who compete in track and field and XC state-wide. Track and field is the second most popular sport by participation in Delaware.
If Governor Markell says yes, then, “What are our options?”
If Title IX is a percentage game, then could we save the programs by increasing the Women’s XC and Track and Field rosters and decreasing instead of axing the men’s rosters?”
The UD AD Bernard Muir claims these decisions were made because of Title IX even though there were no complaints and no apparent violations. UD is already on a path to add women’s golf to meet the requirements.
If it is dollars, then, since the teams’ costs are low and resources could be shared with the women’s team, could we look for corporate sponsorship, matching funds, redirection of some of the funds budgeted for athletics?
The UD XC and Track and Field programs are some of the least expensive to administer at the UD. Instead of cutting the entire program, couldn’t we look at trimming expenses and head count?