As Warrior athletes prepare for the upcoming season, they each have one thing on their mind aside from academics and athletics, budget cuts.
While student-athletes may be safe this year, next season may be a whole different story.
“Different facets of the athletic program have been cut from anywhere between five and thirty-five percent,” Athletic director Tony Barbone said.”The funded areas cut includes equipment, transportation, training room supplies, and many of the assistant coaching positions.”
As far as playing time goes, the Warriors will see 10-20% fewer games than they did last year. Barbone also said that according to a statewide mandate, the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) has required game reductions across the entire state until 2012.
These reductions in the amount of games also affects tournaments. This season, more so than any in the past, will include much more conference play, with non-conference play being trimmed down significantly for the economic dent in the athletics program.
According to a recent L.A. Times’ article, “Athletic programs at public colleges feel California’s budget ax,” the University of California at Irvine has had five of its sports programs dropped, including men’s and women’s rowing, men’s and women’s swimming, diving, and sailing.
In addition, the article stated that L.A. City College dropped every single sports program aside from women’s volleyball.
In another recent article in the Ventura County Star, Moorpark College has lost three of its sports programs, including wrestling and both men’s and women’s golf.
Barbone also commented on the process of cutting a team, stating that if there was a cut next year, that there would be several components for the selection.
“These components are to be prioritized this year in the event of a cut next year,” Barbone said.
In addition, Barbone stated that all the procedures involving Title IX, a law that requires equal participation of sexes in all education programs or activities that are financially assisted.
In essence, this means if a team were to be cut most likely both the men’s and women’s team would go together, rather than cutting a single team, as mandated by Title IX.
While there is no general fundraiser for Warrior athletics, there will be various fundraisers run through each sports program.
“There will be a greater effort to fundraise this year to offset the costs, but regardless, if you’re part of an athletic program at any community college you’re going to take part in fundraisers,” Barbone said.
Fundraising will be essential this year, with the very likely chance of a cut to the program next year.
“So far no sports have been eliminated from the athletic program,” Barbone said. “However, it is something we may have to look at in the future.”
Students should not take for granted the programs they have available today because there is a near certainty that some of them will not be here tomorrow.
“We need to be as efficient as possible,” Barbone said. “While following Dr. Fallo’s principle, we still need to be able to provide our athletes an experience they can enjoy.”