Athletes from various Big Green teams gathered on Monday to offer their opinions on what programs and policies of the athletic department can see reduction as part of the College's planned budget cuts, in a discussion sponsored by the Student Athletic Advisory Committee.
Many student-athletes in attendance agreed that, since varsity teams already have distinctly different funding levels, it will be difficult to administer a uniform cut across all athletic programs.
The athletic department plans to implement a permanent 15 percent budget cut, which will contribute to the total $40 million College-wide cut, according to Budget Committee member and former varsity tennis player Jennifer Murray '09.
Those attending the panel found it difficult, however, to agree on comparable athletic funds that could be cut for every athletic program, due to each team's varied dependence on different areas of funding.
"We will definitely look at each sport differently, depending on the status of the team and the type of sport," Murray said.
She added that it would be unfair to take performance ratings into consideration when making cuts.
Under the current athletic budget, some teams rely more heavily on outside sources of funding than others. For instance, the women's lacrosse team, which is sponsored by both deBeer and Under Armour, offers its members discounts and provides funds for uniforms and equipment, while the cross-country ski team members must supply their own uniforms, equipment and pay for their own travel expenses -- including for the team's recent trip to Anchorage, Alaska for the National Championships.
"Since we already pay for uniforms and travel expenses, having that scaled back anymore would be difficult," nordic skier Ida Sargent '11 said.
And while some teams, including women's soccer and lacrosse, receive free clothes -- which some players, including women's lacrosse player Hope McIntyre '11 and women's soccer player Caitlin MacDonald '09, said are excessive -- the sailing team relies heavily on alumni and friends for basic funding, team member Christina Clark '10 said.
Student-athletes placed travel budgets at varying levels of importance, based on the type of competition the journey brings.
McIntyre, who recently participated on a lacrosse team trip to Australia during winter break, advocated the continuation of team trips.
"The most important thing for us is the ability to play teams other than in the Ivy League, making the travel budget very important," she said. "Going to Australia is important, because we have to chance to play the best teams in the world."
That trip to Australia was privately funded, as Ivy League rules prohibit using Dartmouth's budgeted funds for such a trip.
Although traveling offers better competition, not all teams feel they gain the athletic advantage that these trips are meant to provide.
"We went to Scotland as a team and it was amazing, but soccer-wise, it didn't really develop us as a program," MacDonald said. "Such things are important for some sports, but not necessarily as important in others."
Athletes also raised concern over spending itineraries at the specified locale, including hotel and meal costs.
The men's tennis team, for example, stayed with alumni on its trip to California in an effort to cut costs.
Another major component of athletic funding goes toward the recruitment process, according to Murray, a process which all athletes agreed was fundamental in helping bring talent to Dartmouth. The system for recruits varies, however, for different teams, and it was agreed that some cuts could be made in this process for some of those programs.
For instance, many members of the women's lacrosse team commit to Dartmouth during their junior year of high school and then spend the following summer at Dartmouth, so the women's lacrosse team often does not need the full budget allotted for recruitment visits, Colleen Olsen '10 said.
Meal vouchers designated for the recruitment process are also excessive, since they provide food for both the recruit and the host, tennis team member Stephen Greif '11 said.
Some plans to reduce the athletic budget have already been discussed by the Budget Committee, Murray said, including a proposal to decrease reserved student tickets at hockey and football venues, which would result in hgher ticket sales, Murray said.
Most athletes present on Monday said that what they value most is the ability to compete.
"Just let the kids play the sports -- don't make any drastic changes," Greif said.
Ideas from this discussion will be formally presented to Provost Barry Scherr and Director of Athletics and Recreation Josie Harper.
