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Current Issue: Volume 130, Number 1 July 14, 2009
Ed/Op


Staff Editorial
Hockey tradition saved, start supporting teams

Posted 01-14-2004 at 4:38PM

On Monday, athletic directors from around the nation voted on a series of reforms for Division III collegiate sports. One of the provisions of this package had caused great concern for RPI and seven other schools around the country, and these eight have fought against the change for months, holding conferences, preparing briefs, sending letters, and making phone calls. Their efforts came together on Monday, when the amendment they authored that would allow them to continue offering scholarships for their D-I players was accepted. The Poly would like to use this space to congratulate all officials, both at RPI and elsewhere, who stopped the supporters of the reform from destroying our men’s hockey program as we know it.

In addition, President Shirley Ann Jackson took the opportunity, just hours after the amendment passed, to announce that the women’s hockey program would be elevated to Division I. The women’s hockey team has shown this year that they can compete with D-I programs, beating Sacred Heart and tying rivals Union and Clarkson. Last year, the women nearly won the ECAC Division III East Tournament, but fell to Manhattanville in the finals. Since the women’s program was elevated to a varsity level in 1995, they have only had two sub-.500 seasons, both coming in the first two years of the program’s existence. Every member of the RPI community should be proud of the women and congratulate them on their promotion.

Some have said that Jackson has not been doing much as president of the Institute, but now she’s done something amazing for everyone: for the Institute, the Athletic Department, the students, and the community. Now it is time for the students to do something and support the recently saved men’s hockey team and the soon-to-be promoted women’s team. Very few students come to the women’s hockey games now, and they deserve more support than they are currently receiving. The men’s team also needs support; attendance has been slipping lately. It should feel like the Freakout every night at the Field House.



Posted 01-14-2004 at 4:38PM
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