The Elm Student Newspaper
College drops men's lacrosse program
Y.R. Mother
An angry lacrosse player beats the hell
out of the GW Bust with his now
useless stick.
By W. J. MDH, Elm photographer
The Board of Visitors and Governors stunned the Washington College community on Sunday, announcing in a surprise news conference that it planned to discontinue funding of the nationally prominent men's lacrosse team.
The announcement set the campus into a frenzy, with many students celebrating around an impromptu bonfire on Kibler Field and others rioting angrily near the giant bust of George Washington that adorns Cater Walk.
Even more chaotic was the scene inside Hodson Hall, to which President John Toll and Board Chairman Clifford Schroeder retreated after a brief, sparsely attended, early-morning conference behind the Maintenance Building.
Toll and Schroeder had barricaded themselves and the rest of the board inside the Hynson Study Lounge, where they snacked on catered goodies as the campus dissolved into mayhem.
However, Toll did dispatch personal assistant Joe Holt to speak to the clamoring press corps from the Elm and the Kent County News. When asked the reason for the out-of-the-way location of the announcement, Holt replied, "This administration has made it a priority to do its best to dodge all potentially controversial issues. This is no exception."
However, Holt would not elaborate on the reasons behind the Board's decision.
In particular, he refused to comment on the main theory being floated around campus, which was that the Board had decided to eliminate lacrosse as a first step in de-emphasizing sports and returning the focus on the campus to the arts.Adding credence to this theory, and providing a preview of the immediate and profound effect the decision is expected to have on campus, was the fact that around 10 Jeep Wranglers with "Shoremen Lacrosse" bumper stickers were found parked behind Tawes Theatre instead of in their customary spots in the lower lot of the LFC.
A credible source told the Elm that the former lacrosse players were inside Tawes planning a modern dance interpretation of their displeasure with the college's decision.
"These guys really wish they could be more scholarly and free to express themselves artistically, but don't have time due to the time demands of lacrosse. This ought to change that a lot," said the source."
Outside Hodson, as former lacrosse coaches and groupies sobbed and beat on the nearby bust, a long line of SGA members, club leaders, faculty members, and other members of the athletic department had formed. Each was hopeful for an audience with the board and a shot at the vast amounts of money that had been used to fund lacrosse at WC.
"I'd be happy with just a portion of their meal money," admitted Praveen Abhayaratne, who doubles as president of the United Sri Lankans and of the Framed and Fired Former Resident Assistants of WC (FFFRAWC).
"The SGA has not been particularly quick to fund my groups, but with this kind of money available, I don't see how the college can deny us now."However, others were hoping the funds would stay in the athletic department, particularly assistant baseball coach Steve Sandebeck. "With just a quarter of their budget," said Sandebeck, "we could build a dome over Athey Field, astro turf it, and never worry about rain or snow again!"
"[A dome] would take a big load off of Sue Brown, especially now that she'll have to clean up after that bonfire over on Kibler. Of course, they don't let the girls play on it anyway, so maybe taking care of that damage won't be too big a deal now that lacrosse is no more."
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