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ThE UPEI SUN, Thursday, February 28, 1980, page 3

REMARKS OF DR. PETER MEINCKE .

Last year, I formed a special Athletic Board including representation from the Alumni, the Panther Booster Club and the Island Education/ Athletic cammmity to advise me on the most appropriate objectives for Athletics pro- grams at UPEI and to establish priorities among the various programs in View of the extra- ordinary financial _stringencies facing the universities. .

The Board recommended that the Department's efforts be concentrated in three distinct areas: ' (a) Recreation and Physical Fitness, (b) Intramural Programming, (c) Intercollegiate Programming. A number of short-term and long-term objectives were provided. In its report, the Board has clearly demonstrated that the UPEI Athletic Department has fewer full-time staff and less budget than other small universities in the Maritimes, and yet tries to mount nearly the same level program.

It’has pointed out that if the staff were» raised to six full-time and five partetime, and the 80/81 budget were in the range of $265,000 to $295,000, it should be possible for the Athletic Department to carry out effectively the following programs:

- Intercollegiate level men's soccer at its . present level with expanded coordination with ‘ minor and high school programs ‘

- Intercollegiate men's basketball at its present level and expanded coordination with minor and high school programs. ' ’ '

— An expanded men's hockey program to became one of the main focal points of amateur hockey on P.E.'I . and to strike for competitive excellence within the AUAA. ’ ‘ » . ,

- Women's intercollegiate field hockey at the 7' present level. I , f ’ . , , ' , ;_

- Improved women's basketball to enter upper tier level of campetition in 1980581.

— A new program in women's volleyball with exhi —' bition and tournament play. V

In addition, the Board considered the recarmendation

of the Department ‘of Athletics to drop men's foot-V

ball and recommended, by a Vote of 6 to 3, that it be continued as an intercollegiate sport for a minimum period of two years and 'a formalfreview be conducted

during that time; . The Board has also made a number of important ob-

servationsand recommendations Such asthe following:-

"PRESENTS REPORT 9

- Engaging in tournament sports only where there is an intramural or clubprogram in the same Sport. «

- Increased emphasis on recruiting student athletes, particularly frcm the Atlantic ‘Provinces.

— Consultation with the other Atlantic universities to provide uniform and cdntrolled financial assistance to student athletes.

— Special attention to the intramural program, in particular improving the success of the women's program- i.

—- Clarification of the. status of the Department in the University.

, — InstruCtor status for members of the Department,

together with opportunities for professional development. ‘ - The crucial importance of a new athletic facility.

r'*" ‘- " " " l.

President Meincke

As you can see, the decision to increase the staff and budget of Athletics is not an easy one, and the recommendations of the Board will have to be very carefully considered in our budgeting process. The Board report has made it clear that the University must either increase the staff and budget or reduce the athletic program. .

The most urgent decision is whether to drop football immediately, as recamended by the Athletic Department, or continue it for a minimum of two years.

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VEd‘Hiiton-of the UPEI Athietic

I Board discusses the board's recent recommendations with television broadcaster Chuck Hickey.

Photo . from Top i cs