It has been a month since the decision to remove all of the sports programs at Sonoma State University. The decision has left a lot of people in doubt about the future of athletics at the campus, especially at a time where there is no timeframe or direction to figure out how long this will last.
In a hope to understand the school’s position better from someone in the administration, The STAR was able to interview the interim president Dr. Emily Curter. She provided The STAR with her insight on the subject. “I don’t know how long it will take for a sports program to come back, or frankly, if intercollegiate NCAA sports will ever come back. They may, they may not. I, as Interim president, will probably not make that decision.”
Many people are curious whether the decision will be permanent or if there exists a slight hope for revival. This uncertainty surrounding whether or not a sports program will be reinstated has left a number of people in a state of confusion. The interim president did point out the uncertainty saying the ability to make that decision seems to lie outside her scope.
The interim president openly stated that she is unsure regarding this issue; however, she did mention that reviving intercollegiate sports is something that will most likely not take place during her tenure. This coupled with the fact that the school has for the moment, stopped its search for a permanent president likely means that this decision will stand for the foreseeable future. The situation certainly is far from simple. In addition to being preoccupied with dealing with paying off the millions of dollars owed in debt, the current administration is also tasked with managing the fallout of their abrupt decision made nearly a month ago
The administration’s decision to terminate the sports program is without a doubt a controversial one, and from the looks of it, its repercussions will affect the student body as well as the pride they have in the institution in the long run. Sonoma State’s athletics department has given students chances for physical engagement, teamwork and displaying school spirit. With the recent ascension of SSU alumni Jaylen Wells into the NBA, the future seemed bright for the school’s sporting programs to potentially attract more talent.
University sports undoubtedly fosters school pride, not just among the athletes, but all the students, faculty, staff, and even alumni that support the teams. It is undeniable that the removal of an important feature of student life will lead to consequences that will be experienced throughout the campus.
