Tulane does the impossible???

[davidsmu94]

Tulane Athletics' Gender Equity Figures In Line
Green Wave to Bring Back Men's Outdoor Track & Field for 2004-05.


May 6, 2004




NEW ORLEANS - An aggressive roster management program and the addition of women's swimming and diving has enabled Tulane to achieve its gender equity goals, allowing the University to restore men's outdoor track and field to its sports line-up for 2004-05, Tulane Director of Athletics Rick Dickson announced Thursday. With the addition, Tulane will meet the NCAA's new minimum of 16 sports programs for next year.

In March 2002, Tulane announced that it would drop its men's track and field programs effective for 2002-03 as one part of a three-step gender equity plan. At the time, only 32.5 percent of Tulane student-athletes were female, compared to nearly 51 percent of the student body. This year, the first for the Green Wave women's swimming and diving program, nearly 54 percent of Tulane's student-athlete population is female, compared to a student body which is 52.6 percent female.

Even with the addition of men's outdoor track, the continued growth of the women's swimming and diving program to its full complement of 25 student-athletes, including divers, as well as consistency in roster numbers for its remaining sports programs, will enable Tulane's male to female student-athlete ratio to stay within percentage points of the ratio of the entire student body according to current projections.





"I'm elated to announce that through the successful execution of the plan put into place two years ago, we have achieved and even surpassed our gender equity goals, enabling us to bring men's outdoor track back onto our campus,. Dickson said. "Dropping the program two years ago was one of the most difficult decisions I have had to make as an athletic director, and I'm happy that we will bring back the proud tradition of Tulane men's track next year."

In addition to adding women's swimming and diving, Tulane increased its participation numbers in women's track and field and cross country, women's golf , soccer and women's tennis while holding roster numbers for its men's sports steady over the last two seasons.

"Achieving gender equity in our athletics program is a victory for everyone," said Tulane President Dr. Scott Cowen. .Gender equity in sports is a vital part of Tulane's overall strategic plan to increase diversity in all areas of the university. I am very proud of our gender equity progress in athletics because this was specifically earmarked for improvement and we have accomplished what we set out to achieve."

Current women's track and field coach Heather Van Norman, who also leads the Green Wave men's and women's cross country programs, and her staff will also direct the men's track and field program. Members of the men's cross country team will participate on the track squad.

"This is exciting for us, and for men's track and field across the country, that we are able bring back the men's program here at Tulane," Van Norman said. "It's a sport that has been hit by cuts, and for us to be able to add men's track is a great step. We have worked hard to build a foundation for our women's track program and now, we will be stronger overall."

Tulane currently fields a 15-sport program with competition in men's and women's cross country, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's golf, men's and women's tennis, football, volleyball, baseball, women's soccer, women's indoor and outdoor track and field and women's swimming and diving. The men's outdoor track and field team will begin competing next season.

[Corso]

That is impressive - kudos to Tulane's athletic administration. Hopefully we'll be able to do the same one day. I just hope we still have the ability to bring in top track student-athletes.

Speaking of which .... will Coach Wollman be back next year?