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OUTCOME - JULY 17TH - RESULT - GYMNASTICS STAYS BACKGROUND On June 3rd, 2003 Ball State's long time coach - Mary Roth - was informed that a recommendation was being made to eliminate gymnastics at the University along with Field Hockey and four men's programs. The informer was first-year A.D. Bubba Cunningham who formed a committee earlier this year in an effort to determine how to save money. The administration feels that it can no longer support the 22 current sports and is taking a recommendation to the president to drop to the NCAA minimum of 16 sports in order to remain as a Division I A school. This proposed elimination clearly seems to be financially driven. Other sports programs at Ball State will suffer as the athletic department attempts to find a balance between being self-sufficient and fulfilling the needs of their students while remaining true to their mission. Unfortunately, Ball State is not the only university taking these exact measures in these difficult economic times. UPDATES will be posted with regularity. The recommendation will call for the elimination of these programs for the 2004-2005 season. The A.D. is scheduled to meet with President Brownell on July 18th to present his findings. From now until July 18th, it is our job to let them both know that dropping these sports is not the answer. Please consider getting involved by contacting the A.D. and the president as well as signing the on-line petition that has been set up. ContactsAthletic Director Lawrence
R. "Bubba" Cunningham BSU President Dr. Blaine
Brownell Pam Riegle - Academic
Coordinator - priegle@bsu.edu - 765/285-3781 John Reno: Former NCAA Academic Rep and Head of
the Physical Education Ball State Online Petition An online petition has also been started, you can post your comments there July 17 - Gymnastics will remain at Ball State - other programs will be dropped - press release June 5 - Ball State Daily News article June 5 - Muncie Star-Press article On the Ball State website... The Ball State University women's gymnastics team, under the direction of head coach Mary Roth, was awarded the Russ Vernon Award at the Muncie-Delaware Clean and Beautiful's Annual Awards Ceremony.The award is for exemplary efforts by a youth group to improve the environment. MORE... |