SAVE DARTMOUTH SWIMMING
AND
DIVING
 
“Placing the burden of financial cuts on one sport
 is neither ethical, equitable, nor consistent
with Dartmouth spirit and tradition.”
 
 
Join us to save the proud 80-year tradition of swimming and diving at Dartmouth College.
 
 
Visit www.b-k-ind.com/dartmouth
and click on “Dartmouth Invitational” to help.
 
 
WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT NOW!

BACKGROUND
On November 25, 2002, Dartmouth College announced the elimination of the Dartmouth Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving (S/D) Teams, effective at the end of the current competitive season. No prior indication had been given to coaches or athletes that the continued existence of the Teams was in jeopardy. 
 
Dartmouth Administration cited a net investment loss of 5.7 percent (vs. 3 percent expected loss) on Dartmouth’s endowment last year as the reason for a $260,000 cut in the athletic budget. 
 
No other Dartmouth sports teams were eliminated due to the fiscal crisis.  
 
Those Affected
The decision to eliminate the Dartmouth S/D Teams affects 53 current swimmers and divers, 22 recruited athletes who applied early-decision in anticipation of participating on the Dartmouth S/D Teams, three full-time coaches and one part-time coach, the athletes’ families, Dartmouth S/D alumni, and the Upper Valley community. The water polo club is also likely to be impacted, as the coach is the current Men’s Team coach.
 
Administration claimed that eliminating the Dartmouth S/D Teams will save the college an estimated $212,000 in 2003-2004, approximately 1.96 percent of the college’s 2002 athletic budget.
 
Concurrent with the announcement to eliminate the Dartmouth S/D Teams, Administration reiterated its commitment to constructing a new competition soccer facility, renovating Alumni Gym, and providing broad-based programmatic support.
 
The Impact
ü       Ends competitive careers. Unless the 44 current freshman, sophomores, and juniors transfer from Dartmouth –  an unattractive option –  their collegiate swimming/diving careers are OVER. Through no fault of their own, athletes are faced with equally bad choices – staying at Dartmouth and not swimming or transferring to continue swimming. These are highly skilled athletes who came to Dartmouth as recruited swimmers and divers to compete for the honor of their school. Ending their careers in this way is cruel and unusual punishment for their dedication to their sport and school.   
 
ü       Tarnishes the Dartmouth brand. Dartmouth’s decision and its execution of its decision (the Monday before Thanksgiving during a heavy exam period), show callous disregard for students. In addition, Dartmouth is now the only Ivy League school without a swimming and diving team – reducing the college’s attractiveness to a body of athletes recognized for their academic performance. Dartmouth now joins Columbia at the bottom of the Ivy League in terms of varsity sports teams offered.
 
ü       Discourages athletic recruits in all sports. Eliminating the Dart-mouth S/D Teams is a concrete example of Administration’s decision-making capriciousness and disregard for student opinion. What athlete will feel “safe” that he/she can participate in his/her chosen sport for four full years – regardless of recruitment commitments?
 
SOLUTIONS ARE BEING OFFERED
 
Although no member of the Dartmouth S/D community was notified that the Teams were in jeopardy nor asked for solutions to funding issues, supporters have approached Administration with offers of assistance, including major fund-raising efforts, to provide long-term financial stability to support ongoing operation of the Dartmouth S/D Teams.
 
ADDITIONAL  ISSUES
 
Due Process Was Not Followed
The decision to eliminate the Dartmouth S/D Teams was made unilaterally and in secrecy by Administration and executed without consulting the student body or athletes or notifying the Student Assembly. The Alumni Council and other alumni groups also were not consulted.
 
Club Swimming Is Not an Option
The Administration suggests club swimming as an alternative for swimmers displaced by the elimination of the Dartmouth S/D Teams. This suggestion lacks understanding of the collegiate swimming structure and ignores the talent and achievement of Dartmouth swimmers. It also fails to address the needs of displaced Dartmouth divers. 
 
Club swimming is not an option because:
ü       Collegiate club swimming does not exist in New England. .
 
ü       Dartmouth swimmers are elite athletes who have trained for 10-17 years – 11 months a year, averaging 20+ hours a week. They did not train that long and hard to become recreational swimmers.
 
ü       Virtually every Dartmouth S/D Team member was recruited by Dartmouth College to participate on its varsity, collegiate team. Recruitment was an implied promise that a viable varsity team would exist for the swimmer’s full tenure at Dartmouth.                                
The “Need” For A New Pool Is A Red Herring 
A major justification for eliminating the Dartmouth S/D Teams is
Administration’s assertion that the existing facility is “substandard” and  “to be competitive in swimming” a new facility is needed– at a cost of $20-25 million. The Dartmouth S/D Teams do not categorize the facility as substandard. The Dartmouth pool is equivalent to or better than at least three Ivy League pools. And throughout the New England swimming community (US Swimming and state associations), the pool is regarded as a premier short course facility, much sought after for championship meets. The “need” for a new pool is a red herring that the Administration invented to exaggerate its argument that the cost of continued support of Dartmouth S/D Teams is too prohibitive to be contemplated.
 
WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP
 
We need your help NOW to save Dartmouth S/D! Here’s what you can do to make a difference:
 
ü       Join the “Dartmouth Invitational”
(www.b-k-ind.com/dartmouth/ FUNDRAISING/pledge-form.htm)
 by making a monetary pledge of any amount to show your support.
 
ü       Express your concern by e-mail, fax, phone calls, and mail to -President James Wright (603.646.2223/James.E.Wright
@Dartmouth.edu), Dean James A. Larimore (603.646.2243/James.
A.Larimore@Dartmouth.edu), Provost Barry Scherr (603.646.2404/Barry.Scherr@Dartmouth.edu), and Athletic Director Joann Harper (603.646.2465/Joann.Harper@Dartmouth.edu).* Copy support@b-k-ind.com on all correspondence, please.
 
ü        Help us make the Dartmouth community aware of what the elimination of the Dartmouth S/D Teams means to the prestige, financial health, and competitiveness of Dartmouth College; the student-athletes whose competitive careers are ended; alumni, and the well-being of the Upper Valley community.  If you have a special skill to offer, please contact support@b-k-ind.com.
 
SAVE DARTMOUTH SWIMMING AND DIVING
 
*Additional contact information is available on our Web site at
www.b-k-ind.com/dartmouth