TOWSON UNIVERSITY

OUTCOME - GYMNASTICS TO REMAIN AT TOWSON - 2/26/04

The administration at Towson University made the decision to keep gymnastics, but they are discontinuing three men's programs.  Several Towson alumnae led the charge in this fight to keep the program alive.  Gymnastics is one of the most successful programs at the University and there was an outpouring of support from the local community as well as the gymnastics community.  We thank all that contributed and remind you that we can make a difference.

BACKGROUND

On January 16th, 2004 Towson's coach - Dick Filbert - reached out for help as it was evident that the rumors that his program was in danger were true.  The gymnastics program at Towson has been one of the most successful programs at the University and it has a rich tradition under coach Filbert.  No official announcement has been made, but an evaluation process has been taking place with the apparent goal of eliminating men's track and field, men's swimming and women's gymnastics while adding women's golf.  If the argument sounds familiar it is because it is the same thing that West Chester University attempted to do and failed.  At this point several alumnae have written letters to the University and also sent around looking for help.  Please check the  UPDATES as they will be posted with regularity.  Also consider getting involved by writing and/or e-mailing the people responsible for making this decision and showing your support (contacts below).  A decision was supposed to be made on January 15th, but it is being held up for some reason.  The educated guess is that Towson University is out of compliance with Title IX is being very careful about how they plan to make this announcement, go through with it and somehow attempt to get in compliance.  They have apparently hired a very reputable Title IX lawyer. If the University announces the elimination of the gymnastics program, a Title IX battle might be the only thing to save it.  In order for that to be successful, we need to demonstrate interest in this program in in gymnastics.  Please help, let the president and AD know that there is interest and that losing one program puts every other program in danger.

Hello everyone,

I am writing to you because you either know me very well, competed with me in some gymnastics arena, love gymnastics, or maybe know some people in high places who can help.

Help what you say...well the new president of Towson University (Robert Caret) has plans to drop the Towson University gymnastics program after this (2004) season! Yes, I know it's shocking to even imagine Towson 
without it's gymnastics. This news has hit us all hard and we can do something about it. We can unite in efforts to notify the news media, politicians, and others with a lot of power. A huge monetary donation will not help at this point! We have been told that even a trust which would yield a million in interest a year would not do the trick.

So is this how the president has decided to try and beef up the TU football scholarship fund? TU has this new multi-million dollar "Unitas Stadium" that they cannot fill and the resolution to this problem is to take away Towson's most successful athletic team on campus for nearly 20 years?

Yes, gymnastics is a costly program at TU. Rightly so! We have had winning seasons and consistantly produced NATIONAL QUALIFIERS for years! The program that Coach Filbert has built at TU is remarkable. Gymnastics is the most popular sport on campus.

There has to be a better way to solve the Universities financial woes. Gymnastics has not contributed to those woes. If anything gymnastics has provided much exposure and drawn more media attention than anything...except maybe the news surrounding all the mess the previous president has left.

Please use whatever pull you have in this great state to let Robert Caret know what a huge mistake it would be to drop Towson's most successful sport on campus. You can fwd this email to senators, former senators, other political powers, the media (channel 2, 11, and 12, ESPN), professional athletes who may have a particular interest in TU athletics, or any other people who may have pull in Maryland.

The presidents email address is rcaret@towson.edu.  Please make your email look worth opening in the subject box. Every email could help. Please send a note expressing your feelings on all of this news. The Athletic Directors email address is wedwards@towson.edu  

The Towerlight paper on campus should hear about this, the SUN paper should hear, as well as the Towson Times. Please make a few calls to the people you know who work at these papers and get a fire started! 

Coach Filbert and the gymnastics team needs your support. The squeaky wheel gets the grease! You can never do too much!

Thanks for reading and getting fired up like I am. I am just amazed that anyone who knows Towson Athletics would take away the sport that is most successful year after year.

Thanks again and make some noise!

Wendy Jo Weaver-Kwiatkowski
TU gymnast 1988-1992
Assistant coach 1992-1995

Contacts

Robert Caret - President - rcaret@towson.edu 

Wayne Edwards - Director of Athletics - wedwards@towson.edu - 410/704-2758

UPDATES

Feb 26 - Official announcement that gymnastics is to remain at the University

 - Towson Release

Feb 5 - A lot of press and public support has been shown for the Towson program in the last two weeks.  The administration continues to respond that no decisions have been made as of yet.  A radio talk-show was a big success in talking about Towson Gymnastics.  A couple of articles have been written in the Baltimore area regarding the team.  If you are around the Towson area, help out by attending this weekend's Governor's Cup meet.

 - The Jeffersonian on February 5th
 - The Baltimore Sun on January 30th

Jan 22 - President Robert Caret is a brand new president who seems to have inherited the problem of a brand new stadium with a lot of expenses and not enough people to fill it.  Along with AD - Wayne Edwards, the underlying fact seems to be that Towson wants to spend more money on their football program in order to try to improve their team and contend for the few dollars that are out there for successful programs.  When a school is in financial difficulties, whether they are of their own making or whatever circumstances might surround it, it is always the programs such as gymnastics that end up paying the price and being eliminated.  The best that we can do is to enlighten the president and the AD as to the importance of this program for the entire gymnastics community, a community that has a lot of interest in this program remaining at the University.