SOUTHEAST MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY

BACKGROUND

The athletic department, under a directive from the school president, announced a re-evaluation of their gymnastics program with the possible discontinuation of gymnastics in favor of golf and junior varsity soccer.  As of October 3rd, 2002 the committee in charge of this evaluation had not yet started discussions on the future of the program, with the report being due to the President at the end of November.  As this story unfolds, it will be posted below in UPDATES.  Please consider writing and/or e-mailing the people in charge of evaluating this program (contacts below).  Please sign the on-line petition and help us keep gymnastics alive not only at SEMO, but overall at the collegiate level.  Losing one program puts every other program in danger.

OUTCOME - DEC 11th, 2002 - PROGRAM TO REMAIN...

A letter from head coach Patty Stotzheim to local area clubs......

Southeast Missouri State University is currently investigating the possibility of dropping their Women's Gymnastics Program. The administrators are attempting to justify this by declaring that the sport of gymnastics does not serve the interests and abilities of young women in our area. Although the "area" hasn't been strictly defined, we're surveying Missouri and several counties in Tennessee, Arkansas, Kentucky, and Illinois. I am certain they do not realize the magnitude of interest and participation in our sport, mostly because of the absence of gymnastics in the high schools.

Southeast Missouri State University has had a very long and successful program. It would be very unfortunate if the administrators make their decision without all of the information. I thank you in advance for all your help. The Southeast Gymnastics Program would also welcome your show of support by contacting the athletic administrators who will be instrumental in this upcoming decision:

Don Kaverman, Athletic Director
dkaverman@semo.edu
Southeast Missouri State University
MS 0200
One University Plaza
Cape Girardeau MO 63701

Cindy Gannon, Sr. Women's Administrator
cmgannon@semo.edu
Southeast Missouri State University
MS 0200
One University Plaza
Cape Girardeau MO 63701

Lana Richmond
lrichmond@semo.edu
Southeast Missouri State University
MS 0200
One University Plaza
Cape Girardeau MO 63701

Thank you again. All your support makes a difference!

UPDATES (2002)

Dec 11 - A.D. Don Kaverman called Head Coach Patty Stotzheim along with the entire team to a meeting  this afternoon.  At the meeting Kaverman announced that the evaluation of the women's gymnastics team was concluded and the program would remain at Southeast.  The announcement comes after the outside consultant's recommendation to keep the program and a couple of recent articles in Southeast Missourian (Front Page Sunday Dec 8th and an article written by team-member Amy Cole on Dec 5th).  The entire gymnastics community is thrilled with the announcement and hopeful that things can get back to normal for this program.  We wish coach Stotzheim and the entire SEMO team a great and healthy season along with many more to come.  We'd also like to thank everyone who took time to contact the school via phone, e-mail or whatever correspondence and also everyone who signed the on-line petition and generally spread the word about how important it is to keep the programs that we have.  Thank you all.

Nov 7 - The ad-hoc committee given the task of evaluating the gymnastics program at SEMO returned a 'no-decision' and a recommendation that an outside consultant be hired to bring a resolution to this issue.  The administration at SEMO has basically instituted a 'gag' order on any news or updates involving the evaluation of this program.  The Athletic Director is still aiming at having a recommendation for the president by the end of this term.  This committee has made numerous attempts to provide some assistance and options relating to this evaluation and they have all been turned down citing that this is 'Internal University business'.

Oct 3 - On-line Petition set up.  Please sign it! - No news has been reported regarding the progress of the evaluation.  No response or communication has taken place between any member of the athletic department or Ad Hoc committee with the head coach or any member of the gymnastics team with regards to the recent media coverage.

Sept 20 -  Southeast 'Rumor-Mill'

     QUESTION:
I heard that the committee in charge of re-evaluating the athletic department just started meeting and are barely tackling Phase I of the three phases they are charged to report on. Given that the report is due sometime in November, it doesn't seem that there would be enough time for a fair evaluation of the gymnastics program. Is this true?
     RESPONSE:
The Ad Hoc Committee to Review Intercollegiate Sports Programs has a number of issues they are studying, including the structure of the women's gymnastics program. Recommendations will be forwarded to the President of the University via the Athletic Director when the committee's work is complete. That may or may not be in November. If it is necessary to extend the timeline in order for the committee to appropriately evaluate each issue, the timeline can be modified. The committee is committed to conducting its business "the right way" and is not going to do anything "that would not be in the best interest of the University," said Don Kaverman, director of athletics.

Sept 18 - Local News affiliate interviews team and coach and runs story in local TV very much in support of keeping the program.

Sept 18 - Story ran in the Southeast Missourian.

     QUESTION: 
In light of the budget crisis, I was wondering how the sports programs are going to be affected. I heard that the gymnastics team does not have a very good budget. Is Southeast gymnastics going to be cut? Are any sports programs under consideration to be cut?
     RESPONSE:
Recent budgetary discussions at the University which have focused on streamlining operations in order to reduce expenses are entirely separate from the work of an ad hoc committee reviewing Southeast's intercollegiate sports programs. While the Athletics Department has been asked to reduce its budget in order to assist the University in meeting its budgetary goals, elimination of a sports program is not anticipated to be a part of its contribution.

Meanwhile, as part of the NCAA Reaccreditation Self-Study, and as recommended by the Gender Equity Phase III Committee, the President recently appointed an ad hoc committee to review Southeast's intercollegiate sports programs. The possibilities to be considered in this study include maintaining men's participation at current levels; the feasibility of adding women's golf; the feasibility of adding a women's junior varsity soccer program; and an examination of the structure of women's gymnastics to evaluate the participation pool, and financial and coaching resources as they relate to the interest and abilities of the potential women student athletes from our service region. At the conclusion of its work, the committee will issue a report to the athletic director and, ultimately, to President Dobbins, who will review it and make recommendations to the Board of Regents by calendar year's end. Any decisions regarding restructuring of Southeast's intercollegiate athletics program would be made by the Board of Regents in early 2003 in order to be implemented by Fall 2003.

Sep 12 - Future of Gymnastics committee chair places a call to the vice-chair of the evaluation committee Cindy Gannon

Sep 10 - Future of Gymnastics committee vice-chair mails out letter of support to the administrators at SEMO.

Sept 3 - Surveys and letters sent out to area clubs announcing the evaluation of the program