Ruth Simmons Announces Brown to Postpone Varsity Team Cuts (Go Local Prov-4/30)

Brown University President Ruth J. Simmons announced today that she will postpone her recommendations to the Brown Corporation concerning the future status of four varsity athletic teams until its October meeting. The wrestling, women’s skiing, and men’s and women’s fencing teams will all compete in the 2011-2012 academic year.  reprieve

The announcement is Simmons’ response to a preliminary report issued by the Athletics Review Committee suggesting that the four teams be cut in order to resolve long-standing issues about the appropriate scope and budget of Brown’s varsity athletics program. In a letter to the Brown community, Simmons explained that “the time-frame for consideration and implementation of the discontinuation of specific sports is too brief,” particularly in light of “where we are in the semester… when students are focused on final projects and exams.”

“Completing the semester without the burden or stress of addressing this issue”

“[Allowing] students to complete the semester’s work without the burden or stress of addressing this issue is sound and compassionate,” Simmons wrote. “[They] will be able to return to Brown in September with the assurance of a full year of participation in their sport as well as have the opportunity to offer additional input about the value and status of their sport before a decision is made.”

Simmons thanked the “wrestling, skiing, and fencing students and their efforts to collect information and offer testimony,” and commended them for “conduct[ing] themselves with great poise and intelligence.”

Though the suspension decision is on hold, Simmons will make several other recommendations concerning varsity athletics to the Brown Corporation at their May 2011 meeting. These recommendations include a reduction in the number of admission slots for recruited athletes, development of a plan to make necessary salary adjustments for staff and coaches, and fund raising to support improvements in financial aid and other department needs.