04-26-2004, 03:48 PM
CUSA may be looking to Replace Rice if Rice's academics has anything to say.
Faculty criticizes Rice University's athletics program
By The Associated Press
(4/24/04 - HOUSTON) — Rice University faculty members are voicing their concerns about the school's athletic programs, saying too many academically unprepared athletes are accepted and too many athletes violate the school's honor code.
The faculty report, the latest in a series published about every 10 years, also called the financial cost of running the athletics program "amazingly high" and "historically unprecedented," the Houston Chronicle reported Saturday.
The report, which the faculty council issued confidentially last year and publicly this week, calls for further study on whether Rice should continue to participate in Division I-A athletics.
The university's board of trustees recently commissioned a comprehensive review of the athletics program that's expected to look at everything from doing away with athletics to enhancing facilities for athletes.
Rice President Malcolm Gillis called the faculty report "an earnest but flawed effort." In a letter to faculty made part of the report, Gillis wrote that while "we have not by any means resolved all our own issues in athletics ... ours is a widely admired program, even among the severest critics of intercollegiate athletics generally."
Ed Akin, speaker of the Rice faculty council, said the report raises questions but needs more data.
"It does, however, express common faculty concerns about academics, admissions and finances as a result of Rice's participation in Division I-A athletics," Akin said.
Rice's participation in big-time college sports has historically been a contentious matter on campus. A few professors have called for its abolition, while the majority have advocated for reforms.
The trustee board will reconsider the future of Rice athletics after the study is completed, said Terry Koonce, chairman of the subcommittee reviewing athletics. But the abolition of Rice sports isn't "practical," Koonce said.
(Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Faculty criticizes Rice University's athletics program
By The Associated Press
(4/24/04 - HOUSTON) — Rice University faculty members are voicing their concerns about the school's athletic programs, saying too many academically unprepared athletes are accepted and too many athletes violate the school's honor code.
The faculty report, the latest in a series published about every 10 years, also called the financial cost of running the athletics program "amazingly high" and "historically unprecedented," the Houston Chronicle reported Saturday.
The report, which the faculty council issued confidentially last year and publicly this week, calls for further study on whether Rice should continue to participate in Division I-A athletics.
The university's board of trustees recently commissioned a comprehensive review of the athletics program that's expected to look at everything from doing away with athletics to enhancing facilities for athletes.
Rice President Malcolm Gillis called the faculty report "an earnest but flawed effort." In a letter to faculty made part of the report, Gillis wrote that while "we have not by any means resolved all our own issues in athletics ... ours is a widely admired program, even among the severest critics of intercollegiate athletics generally."
Ed Akin, speaker of the Rice faculty council, said the report raises questions but needs more data.
"It does, however, express common faculty concerns about academics, admissions and finances as a result of Rice's participation in Division I-A athletics," Akin said.
Rice's participation in big-time college sports has historically been a contentious matter on campus. A few professors have called for its abolition, while the majority have advocated for reforms.
The trustee board will reconsider the future of Rice athletics after the study is completed, said Terry Koonce, chairman of the subcommittee reviewing athletics. But the abolition of Rice sports isn't "practical," Koonce said.
(Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
