Club sports a priority for presidents

With then-West Virginia University President Michael Garrison at the helm of the University, it looked as if club sports at WVU would get a significant boost in funding.

Garrison, who was on the club rowing team at WVU as an undergraduate student, made club sports a high priority. It was his goal to better fund the group of clubs in the first year of his presidency.

"I don't look at it as just a former president or a guy who has heard or read about club sports," Garrison said in an interview Monday. "I actually participated in them and did it because it was such a great experience."

His administration, at that time, was in serious talks over improving club sports funding and had intentions of increasing it significantly for the 2008-09 academic year, Garrison said.

Garrison, who is now an attorney at law for Morgantown-based law firm Spilman, Thomas and Battle PLLC, had planned to set aside $250,000 of University money specifically for club sports. That sum was nearly six times the amount club sports ended up receiving in 2008.

The additional funding toward club sports would also increase alumni donations, he said.

"What I found out was that once the University was able to commit (additional funding), there were plenty of alumni who would be more than willing to donate money," Garrison said because of the positive impact club sports had on those alumni while they were students at WVU.

"Unfortunately, we ran out of time."

In addition, Garrison was hoping to build a separate multi-purpose facility for the benefit of club sports.

"The University could be very aggressive if it wanted to be in working with city leaders to potentially build a multipurpose facility, and that was our plan," he said.

When Garrison resigned from his position as WVU president in June 2008, the efforts he had in place to help club sports were put on the back burner.

Interim President C. Peter Magrath did not make any significant changes for club sports in his year on the job.

When the University's newest President James P. Clements came into office in July, club sports was put on his radar by the University's Student Government Association.

Clements said he asked Student Body President Jason Zuccari for a list of priorities for students.

Club sports were at the top of the list.

From that point, Clements said it was a priority for him if it was a priority to students.

"In the next few weeks we will be turning toward specific strategic discussions. This is not just planning for the first year of a new administration, rather it is a new strategic planning process for the next 10 years and beyond," Clements said in a statement. "Club sports are definitely an area of focus within the array of health and wellness goals students have expressed."

Clements served as Provost of Towson University before coming to WVU.

At Towson, club sports is a predominately funded university organization.

Towson allows nearly full funding for all trips and travel costs, minus gas. In addition, the school allows a club to use money from its general allotment to go toward paying a coach.

Funding is divvied out based on the amount of fundraising dollars raised per semester. A club that raises $650 every semester can receive no less than $7,500 of funding in that semester.

The club sports program also has a 51-page handbook for all club sports detailing rules, regulations and processes, a 31-page financial policy and a seven-page constitution all found online at the program's Web site.

WVU Sports Club Federation President and cycling team President Ryan Post said WVU has a small constitution, but otherwise the program's are much different.

"I wouldn't be against a system like that, but I don't want to be spending hours doing paperwork unless there is significant financial incentive," Post said. "Currently, the funding isn't anywhere near that level."

At the Sept. 16 SGA Speak Up event, club sports members totaled nearly 100 to voice their concerns over funding and facilities.

Zuccari, though, said his power only goes so far with club sports. While SGA can host more events, he said it's up to Clements and his administration to allocate better funding and facilities.

"We need cooperation from the University. That's the over-arching picture," Zuccari said. "What we found out from the forum is that the University needs to put more time into club sports and its students. It's sad to see that because we have great teams.

"It's time that we need to start saying this is a priority, and we need everyone to know that we are committed to helping club sports."

Garrison said it is up to the University to make club sports a priority. If it is, additional funding can be taken care of quickly.

"It's just like any other issue. In my opinion, it is a very important priority, and many students share that opinion," Garrison said. "As any good political science professor will tell you, it's a matter of priority in terms of budgeting, and that was certainly a priority for us."

He added that members of these teams should use "the same discipline and persistence they show in practicing" to get what they want.

"They're not being told they have to go to practice. They don't have scholarships, it's not mandatory," Garrison said. "That same discipline they show in their dedication to club sports will hopefully prove successful to them in continuing to be persistent about an issue.

"Let's face it, there are plenty of groups on campus that like to talk about the need more funding, but this a proven winner."