St. Cloud State University eliminating 6 athletic programs
https://twitter.com/SCSUHUSKIES/status/699380492949323776
St. Cloud State University athletics director Heather Weems announced Wednesday that the university is cutting six sports from its athletics department effective at the end of the current academic year.
The sports being eliminated:
- men's tennis
- women's tennis
- women's Nordic Skiing
- men's cross country
- men's indoor track and field
- men's outdoor track and field
A review process looked into each sport's tradition and history, available facilities, recent competitive success, investment needs, Title IX compliance and alumni engagement and financial support.
"This has been a very difficult process and decision," Weems said, while adding that "athletics expenses continue to increase across all sports each year, and we are not able to meet the financial and support expectations of our programs."
Isaiah Pitchford, a sophomore sprinter on the track team, reacted on Twitter.
https://twitter.com/pitch333/status/705041174654906369
https://twitter.com/pitch333/status/705045496608399360
https://twitter.com/pitch333/status/705046425923510272
The university estimates the cuts will save the athletics department about $250,000.
According to the St. Cloud Times, 80 student-athletes will be impacted by the cuts. The University will maintain financial aid benefits for up to four years for student-athletes who choose to stay at SCSU, and they'll help them if they decide to transfer to a different school.
SCSU will go from 23 intercollegiate sports to 17.
