Possible varsity position causes controversy
There is a lot of buzz going around in the SMU sports world about the possibility of bringing women’s softball to the varsity level. If the sport was brought on campus the debate is which men’s sport would rise to varsity status.
For the past few years, confusion has existed as to why SMU does not have a softball or baseball team. After all, isn’t the sport considered America’s pasttime?
Title IX is a clause in collegiate sports that requires universities to have an equal numbers of mens’ and womens’ varsity athletic teams. Title IX has banned sex discrimination in the classroom and on the playing field since 1972.
The amendment has been successful in creating equality between men and women in athletics. The amendment assures equal amounts of scholarships for male and female athletes.
Another team that is interested in receiving varsity status is the men’s lacrosse club team. Lacrosse is a sport that is popular in the Northeast and Midwest, but it has had trouble gaining popularity in the South.
SMU lacrosse club coach Don Newburry feels that lacrosse should become a varsity sport. Newbury believes that if the sport received varsity recognition more players would come out and play because scholarships would be made available.
Newbury said the lacrosse team, which has a match this Saturday at the intramural field, has had trouble getting a full team on the field since the beginning of pledgeship and the spring semester. He feels that players would make the sport their top priority if they were in a more competitive league.
According to Title IX, lacrosse could be elevated to varsity status if softball is made a varsity sport. The lacrosse team was recently given a large sum of money, some of which is being placed in a scholarship fund for upcoming players.
The lacrosse coaches are not paid and coach the team voluntarily. With the donation the coaches can be paid, and new ones can be hired.
Newbury has asked the athletic department for lacrosse to become a varsity sport in the past, and his requests have been denied.
Lacrosse has several competitors in acquiring the open space for a men’s varsity sport. The obvious answer would be to start a baseball team, especially since SMU is one of the few schools of its size, in this state, lacking a baseball team.
Even if a softball team is in the works at the SMU athletic department, it may take years for it to become a reality. There are a lot of club sports at SMU, and they all deserve more recognition.
Possible varsity position causes controversy
