To the Editor:
“Today I announced that in the best interest of the institution, two varsity athletic programs, football and men’s ice hockey would be eliminated, effective for the 2003-2004 academic year.”
This was the news that rocked alums through a letter from the President of Fairfield University, the Rev. Aloysius P. Kelley, dated February 6, 2003. As Alumni of the University and former members of the hockey team, we are challenging the process employed and the administration’s decision to eliminate the varsity hockey program.
We have discussed this with various faculty members, students, and alumni, all of whom share our concerns. Ice hockey has been a proud tradition at Fairfield University for over 30 years. The players, the families and the alumni share a common bond that is rarely seen in any other sport. We are not just teammates, we are family. We are now a family that Fairfield University has alienated. Our understanding is that hockey’s elimination constitutes less than 30 percent of the announced $570,000 budget reduction. Incidentally, the total athletic operating budget is $7 million. The publicly announced savings of $570,000 would lead one to believe that the new budget is $6.43 million. Are we correct with that assumption? Or is the budget remaining at $7 million and is the elimination of these sports a means to balance the budget? Hockey was only an estimated 2.4 percent of the original figure.
We are extremely disappointed that the university can find no other solution to address its
financial difficulties managing the varsity sports programs at the university. But given the above analysis, it seems that the elimination of the ice hockey program does little to achieve their goal.
In fact, it seems that it doesn’t address the overriding budgetary problems of the athletic programs. Parents, friends and alumni travel from far and wide to see the team play each weekend.
It is this whole community that entrusted the tremendous opportunity to become a student-athlete in good faith to Fairfield University.
Our goal is simple: to open an active dialouge with the University’s board of trustees. What was the process for this decision? Did you have the facts? Were alternatives discussed? Is there still an opportunity to save the program? For the sake of those affected, these questions need to be addressed.
Until such time as the administration openly revisits this decision, we are recommending that all former varsity athletes and their families withhold all future contributions to the University and the athletic program. After all, if this can happen to the ice hockey team, which is among the longest running sports at the University are other sports immune?
We are asking the trustees, the budgetary committee, the President of Fairfield University, and the athletic department to address our valid concerns.
Sincerely,
Jon Hanley Class of ’84
Marshall F. Richards, Class of ’83
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