University Senate to Review Athletics Reclassification Proposal

By Joel Blumenthal

The University Senate has received a recommendation from the Intercollegiate Athletics Advisory Board (IAAB) that Albany reclassify its current intercollegiate athletics competition level from National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II to Division I.

Senate Chair and Professor Carlos Santiago told University Update, "The Senate Educational Policy Council (EPC), chaired by Professor Judith Baskin, will review the proposal," which the IAAB had previously presented to President Hitchcock, and which Hitchcock then transmitted, without comment, to the Senate.

"Following a full and open discussion," Santiago said, "I would expect the EPC to complete its review, and make a recommendation to the full Senate for a vote, by the end of the Spring Semester." It is expected that the Student Association also will take up a discussion of the matter during the same period.

IAAB Chair and Distinguished Service Professor Richard Hall said IAAB members were unanimous in supporting a proposal by Director of Athletics Dr. Milton E. Richards to reclassify the University's current NCAA Division II membership to Division I.

The IAAB includes four faculty (Distinguished Service Professors Hall, Shirley J. Jones and Douglas M. Windham of the School of Education, and Professor Cecilia M. Falbe); two administrators (Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies Carson Carr, Jr. and East Campus Director of Facilities Management and Construction Dennis Stevens); four students (Student Association President Michael Castrilli; Johanna Rosenberg, Soyan Mui and Anthony Vitti); and one alumna (Winsome A. Foderingham- Herard).

"We believe that a move to NCAA Division I competition would provide national visibility to our athletic program, consistent with the national reputation of our academic and research programs," Hall said. "We recruit faculty from Division I institutions, and Division I institutions recruit our faculty.

"Institutions such as Massachusetts, Villanova and Wisconsin have demonstrated the how a successful Division I athletics program can assist in student recruitment and development," said Hall. "Albany's move from Division III to Division II has been extremely successful. In our second season of Division II competition, our teams have won 55 percent of their contests, and our student-athletes have higher grade point averages than when we competed at Division III. That is because we have recruited student-athletes within University admissions guidelines and provided an extensive academic advising program."

Vice President for Student Affairs James Doellefeld said he supports a move to Division I, provided that "No additional State funds will be used for intercollegiate athletics; there will be no lowering of admissions requirements for student athletes; gender equity will continue to be a priority, and recreational and intramural activities will continue to be supported at current levels or greater."

The IAAB proposes to fund the reclassification primarily via three annual increases of $15 in the mandatory Student Athletic Fee (from its current $83 to $128 per year). A total of 75 athletic scholarships would be granted, on a gender-equitable basis, for sports other than football. In football, the University would compete at the NCAA Division I-AA level, with grants-in-aid solely based on need, as is the practice in the Ivy League.

"Reclassifying the level of intercollegiate athletic competition for the University is an important issue that deserves careful and open deliberation," said President Hitchcock. "Before I make a final decision, there will be full and complete consultation with faculty, staff and students. In addition, the Student Association will also devise its own deliberative procedure."

Television: University at Albany and WYNT-TV (NewsChannel 13) announced plans in December to broadcast a weekly basketball show, which began on January 11.

The 30-minute program, which is titled "Hoop Games - Great Danes Basketball", will air on the NBC affiliate each Saturday at 12 noon, and be hosted by Rodger Wyland, the evening sports anchor at Channel 13, and host of the nightly program, Big Board Sports Talk, on NewsRadio 590 WROW.

In addition, the eight-week television program, which runs through early March, will be replayed in its entirety on Time Warner Cable (Channel 9) on Monday evenings at 7:00 p.m.

"We are pleased to be working with the University at Albany on the 'Hoop Games - Great Danes Basketball' show," WNYT-TV General Manager Steve Baboulis said. "As this area's leading television sports programmer, NewsChannel 13 is committed to supporting high quality athletics in the Capital Region. Milt Richards has made great strides to improve the quality of the University's basketball programs and we view this new show as a way to get that message out to the public. We look forward to a long and beneficial relationship with the University as its sports programs grow in stature."

The next edition appears on your television this Saturday, January 25 at 12 noon.

Men's Basketball: Albany routed New Haven, 95-62, last Saturday to improve to 11-5 overall and 4-4 in the New England Collegiate Conference. Freshman Todd Cetnar and junior Andre Duncan each had 12 points to pace five players in double figures.

The Great Danes, who dropped a 67-60 decision at Southern Connecticut State, the nation's seventh-ranked Division II team in their previous contest, opened the game with 10 unanswered points and never looked back. Bob Markel, a sophomore point guard, had seven of his 11 points in that span.

"Bob Markel got us going," said Albany coach Richard Sauers, who has a 696-325 career record in his 41st season. "It was the best chemistry we've had all year, and it paid off a big dividend with our performance and the victory."

Albany currently stands in fifth place in the NECC standings, and is two victories better this year than at the 16-game mark a year ago.

Tom McGoldrick, a 6-foot-5 junior from Smithtown, N.Y., has been impressive over the last two weeks, and is averaging 17.1 points and 5.6 rebounds over his last seven starts.

Women's Basketball: Albany increased its winning streak to nine straight with a 78-69 victory over New Haven at the Recreation and Convocation Center last Saturday. The Great Danes are 11-3 overall and own second place in the New England Collegiate Conference standings with a 6-1 mark.

The Danes, which last won nine consecutive times in 1987-88, broke a 48-48 deadlock with 10 of the game's next 12 points. Michele Davis, who hit a one- hander off glass in transition to start the decisive run, and Samantha Ginsberg, each had four markers in that stretch.

New Haven closed within 62-58 with 5:44 remaining, but Ginsberg scored 10 of her game-high 21 points over the next three minutes as UA pulled away.

Albany's current streak was in real jeopardy last Thursday at Southern Connecticut State. The Owls led 65-52 with 5:38 left in the contest, but the Danes rallied in the closing moments. Freshman Mary Harrison scored on a follow shot in the lane with 4.5 seconds to play for a 76-75 victory.

Ginsberg, who moved into second place on the school's all-time scoring list with 1,099 points, and Davis are among the NECC's top scorers as each player averages 14.1 points per game.

Track & Field: The Albany men's and women's indoor track teams each captured team titles at the Brandeis University Intercollegiate Invitational last Saturday.

Ellakisha Williamson and Janna Johnston were both double-winners for the women. Williamson posted Division II's best time this season in winning the 55-meter hurdles in 8.18 seconds, and was also victorious in the 200-meter dash (25.79). She has already provisionally qualified for the national championship in both the 55-dash and 55-hurdles. Johnston was first in both the long jump and high jump.

Tonya Dodge, who earned All-America status in cross country last fall, set a school record in the 3,000 with a time of 10:11.16. At the Greater Boston Track Club Invitational this past weekend, she also set a school record in the mile of 5:02.90, and provisionally qualified for the NCAAs in that event as well.

Dennis King led a group of four Albany athletes who garnered men's individual titles. King established a school record in the 800-meter run (1:54.33), while Harold Valestin won the triple jump (47'1") and is now a provisional qualifier for the NCAA Division II championships.