UW Student Senate Speaking Out

Hopefully this resolution (cut and pasted below) is a sign of the right people starting to make noise to get something done in Seattle before it's too late.

Associated Students of the University of Washington
Student Senate
Session 15

A Resolution Condeming the Decision to Eliminate the UW Swim Teams

WHEREAS it was announced by Scott Woodward, the UW Athletic Director, on Friday, 1 May 2009, to eliminate the UW Swim Teams effective for the 2009-2010 academic year (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/2009157966_budgetcuts02.html), and,

Whereas, the UW Swim Teams have had a long tradition at UW, with the Men's team having been established in 1932, and the Women's team established in 1975, and,

Whereas the UW Swim Teams have produced many alumni who have distinguished themselves in later life, to include Medal of Honor recipient Col. Gregory Boyington, USMC, Class of 1934, and,

Whereas the UW Swim Teams have demonstrated their excellence year after year, where members of the Men's team have earned 12 individual NCAA championships (http://web1.ncaa.org/web_files/stats/champs_records_book/1999-00/m_swimming.pdf), and,

Whereas this year, the Men's team was ranked 16th in the NCAA, and the Women's team was ranked 15th in the NCAA, which is a major statement of the level of commitment and determination that has been a part of the program, especially considering that the UW Swim Teams do not field divers, where diving is a major component of team rankings, and,

Whereas, if this cut is made, the Pac-10 conference will no longer be able to sanction Men's Swimming, as it requires at least six universities in the conference to have a sport to sanction it,

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE ASSOCIATED STUDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON:

THAT the University of Washington to all it can to retain the Swim Teams, and,

That this resolution be forwarded to Mark A. Emmert, Ph.D., President of the UW & Scott Woodward, UW Athletic Director, upon passage of this resolution