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March 25, 2004
Does this mean war?
There are engaged (and enraged) debates exploding from this friendly SHU blogosphere. This athletics vs. academics war which has been catapulted into an unruly fit of blogging is waged through the substance of a football team brought to SHU.
Let's recap:
First we have Mike Rubino's original 10 Reasons SHU Doesn't Need a Football Team, followed by Brian McCollum's 11 and 12. These enumerations are not far-fetched in considering the present athletic scene here at SHU.
However, there is opposition, and rightfully so. (What would a war be without opposition?!) Jay Pugh wrote an entry supporting the growth of athletics, as did Emily Evans.
This affects all of us at SHU, like it or not.
I'm rather torn, personally. First off, I don't like football in the least, and I like SHU the way it is. I do not have a problem with athletics or athletes, in general. I was an athlete in high school. (I was starting pitcher for the varsity softball team for all four years of my career--but SHU didn't recruit me... there's bitterness in that, but I'm not here to discuss the particulars.) I came to SHU because of the ambient environment (which is being altered), the people, and due to the academic scholarship I was offered.
I do have a problem with stereotypes of athletes, but you know what? If some athletes don't like the reputatations some of their counterparts have created, maybe they ought to do something about it. Stereotypes are often magnifications of the truth--maybe some athletes have been destructive, but I'm certain not every last one of them has had a smash at a window or mailbox.
Mostly, the topic seems to concern the male athletes. This is interesting to me because I am unaware of many things: are there policies for colleges and universities similar to those in high schools concerning Title IX and equal facilities and opportunities for males and females?
I recognize that the basic reasons for introducing a football team to our school are growth of population and additional revenue. Are we trying to grow too much too fast?
(This reminds me of my twelve year-old brother measuring himself to my chin and complaining of shin splints because he wants to grow in the worst way, but doesn't understand that it's just going to take some time and patience.)
And what about the lacrosse team?!
I think that there are too many shadows cast into this war; too many things are being hidden or interpreted wrongly. I hold hope that this isn't going to be a long, bloody war... perhaps someone can fill us in on the truth?
(And as for the mention of a marching band I originally posted in Mike Rubino's blog, I was merely nostalgic. If there is going to be a football team, I wouldn't mind a marching band. *shrug* Just didn't want people to get up in arms about that one...)
Posted by KarissaKilgore at March 25, 2004 4:05 PM
Comments
I think a second civil war has ensued.
Posted by: Amanda at March 25, 2004 6:37 PM
I agree with you Amanda
Tiff
Posted by: Tiffany at March 26, 2004 2:28 PM
Karissa, I thank you for blogging about the football team, and I agree with what you are saying (well, with the exceptions that are evident when comparing my views to yours). Not wanted to toot a horn belonging to me or anything, but I can't help but feel responsible for this crazy blog mess. Of course, I don't regret doing it, but I think the whole thing is rather interesting to look at.
I told myself that I wouldn't continue the fight against a football team... at least not like the original blog post. I said what was on my mind, and I strongly think that a football team at this stage of SHU's life is a big mistake. People know that, and now I can move on. A civil war and a West Side Story-style rivalry between the academics and athletes is something I didn't really expect.
But hey, this is college. People are supposed to protest things, right?
Good blogging
Posted by: Mike Rubino at March 27, 2004 3:02 AM
Thank you, Mike. I just wanted to bring different views on the topic together in one post so it didn't get misconstrewed as a one-sided debate.
Protest does seem to be a common theme on college campuses world-wide, doesn't it?
Posted by: Karissa at March 27, 2004 12:55 PM