Achieving gender equity in athletics is morally the right thing to do, and it also is a matter of federal law (namely, Title IX of the Education Amendments of the Civil Rights Act). In accordance with its Gender Equity Plan, Bucknell will discontinue wrestling as an intercollegiate sport and will reclassify the men's crew program as a "club varsity" sport after their 2001-02 seasons.

I deeply regret the need to make this decision and the effect it will have on our student-athletes. The University has thoroughly explored every possible alternative to cutting or reclassifying men's teams, but in the long run this is the best decision we can make to bring our athletics program into full compliance with federal law.

Starting with the 2002-03 school year, men's crew will move from varsity status to the self-sustaining "club varsity" classification, from which it can compete at its current level against similar club varsity and varsity programs. Wrestling will end intercollegiate activity, unless sufficient competition for a club program can be identified. Bucknell has made significant progress under its Gender Equity Plan, largely by adding two women's sports (golf and water polo) in 1998, but we will not get to our key objectives without eliminating some men's teams. You may know that our plan was developed by a special University committee appointed by President Adams, and it called for achieving equity by next year.

The core issue underlying our latest action is that women are not represented among our varsity athletes to the same degree they are represented in the student body as a whole. Currently, 49 percent of our undergraduates are women, but only 42 percent of our student-athletes are women. It is tempting to think about adding more women's programs, but our current complement of 28 sports (14 each for men and women) is already one of the largest in the country. I do not believe we can add to it, given Bucknell's other pressing budgetary needs.

The plan I have approved was recommended by the Athletics Department leadership and was endorsed by the Committee on Athletics. Athletics Director John Hardt, Vice President Charlie Pollock and I have discussed our mandate and options with students, parents, alumni, the Board of Trustees and others. It has been a difficult decision, but one that peer institutions have made and will continue to make. We have chosen the course that best helps us meet our gender equity goals and sustain excellence in our athletics programs, and yet remain fiscally responsible.

Sincerely,

Steffen H. Rogers, President