George Washington University - Cherry Tree Yearbook (Washington, DC)

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Student Council meetings were relaxed, sometimes frivolous Above, George Biondi and Michael Waxman prepare themselves for a debate on the right of students to take part in academic policy decisions Below, on the other hand, is the Council par- liamentarian, Bob McClenon.

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The turn of the decade was a good time for the Enosinian Society, better known as the debate team. Above is one of the leading team members, Jim Swartz,

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Leaving the South The following is the text of the Student Council Committee on Intercollegiate Athletics recommendation on the Southern Conference The Council approved the recommendation to withdraw 21 — 3, To develop a successful athletic program is an expensive proposition. To invest all this money in a program, that program must be justified in the sense that it meets the objectives of the University. We suggest that the objectives of the athletic program at GW must be both to build spirit in the school among present students and alumni and to give GW a national reputation so that it can attract top students from all over the country. These objectives can best be served by severing our connection with the Southern Conference and undertaking a nationally oriented basketball schedule. Furthermore, seeing that the vast majority of the present students and alumni are from New England and the Mid— Atlantic states (plus the D.C. area), this schedule should be centered in those areas where student interest in the opposition is highest. Thus what is needed is a national schedule with emphasis on the northeast. What GW presently plays is a Southern based schedule with only a limited number of games outside the South and the D.C. area. In reports we have gathered it has been pointed out by Mr. Smith, head of alumni relations, that of all the areas in the country that are encompassed by the Conference, the South has the least number of GW alumni. Mr. Can tin i points out the great benefit to the University of playing basketball games in areas where GW has alumni, there- by opening the possibility of coord in a ting alumni meetings and basketball games and substantially helping fund raising. Georgetown, Navy, American, and to some extent Maryland are all viewed as northeastern schools, thus it is not geography that limits GW to the south. Rather it is the affiliation with the Southern Conference and the Southern exposure of the basketball schedule This could be corrected by playing northern teams in the major northern cities with big city press coverage. The New York Times and the New York News have a lot more readers than any paper in Charlotte or Greenville. Furthermore, not one of the Southern Conference cities is in a major urban center besides GW, Thus we do not even get major Southern city exposure. Admittedly Davidson and William and Mary are top grade academic schools, but Richmond, VML East Carolina, The Citadel, and Furman are poor schools academically. Yet. guilt by association, puts us in the same league with them. Most major Conferences in this count ry have about the same academic standards for all schools; this is far from the case in the Southern Conference. The composition of the Conference has changed considerably over the years. In the early fifties when the present ACC schools were members of the Southern Conference, the league had some sports prestige. During these years and right after GW was even ranked in the top ten basketball teams in the country. But times have changed the Southern Conference, The exits of VPI and West Virginia in recent years had just added to the overall athletic weakness of the Conference, Davidson which had one of the best teams in the country last year, had an extremely difficult time being ranked in the top ten or even top 15 schools. This was not because the schedule Davidson played was suspect, and it was a lot more difficult than the one GW is playing. In all the years GW has played in the Conference, no real rivalries have been built up except maybe for West Virginia (which is no longer a member). Thus the idea of breaking traditional rivalries is no problem. Granted there will be problems that must be overcome once GW leaves the Conference, The major fear this Committee has come across seems to be a fear that GW will have difficulty in scheduling if it leaves the close confines of the Conference. This indeed could be a problem. However, one must ask himself if a few difficulties would not be better than the likes of Furman and East Carolina, Change is never easy, but a few years of difficulty until GW gets the promised athletic building, is well worth the benefits of getting out of the Conference now. It is almost possible that many Northern teams will be glad to come to Washington, even to play at Ft. Myer, whose 3500 seats is not that small, just to get exposure in the nation ' s capital where some of the finest high school basketball is played. It is also said that if we attracted top teams to Ft. Myer there would be no place for the students to sit, A packed house is a pleasant thought; a problem of this kind is the type GW could use. Press and news service benefits are also claimed for Southern affiliation ; however this Committee questions the good that more southern news coverage will do for GW. It is not too often that Southern Conference news makes the northern or national papers. The point has been made that GW can play a 26 game basketball schedule per year and that we are only required to play 10 Conference games. We remind you that in a normal year GW plays only 22 or 23 games plus a Christmas tournament (this year we play only 21 regular games, 12 of which are Conference), However, this still leaves 1 2 or 13 national games. Not really, for GW plays five area games (Navy, Maryland, Virginia, Georgetown, and either Georgetown again, or American) in addition to West Virginia. That only leaves six or seven nomarea, nou-Con fere nee games. This is not enough to build national and northern exposure. The area games are GW’s best rivalries and should in no case be deleted from the schedule. Thus, the only way to give GW the national exposure is to eliminate the Southern Conference games. This would give GW complete freedom as to arranging games Some of the minor sports at GW could be hurt somewhat by an exit from the Conference. It is argued that incentive for the teams could be a problem. This we do not know, but there are eastern and NCAA tournaments for those players who are good enough. The soccer team played two Conference games this year. The baseball team. Coach Steve Korcheck states, would admittedly have no scheduling difficulties if our Conference ties were severed. Korcheck did feel however that it would make it more difficult for the baseball squad to make the NCAA tournament since the Conference winner had an automatic bid The rifle team would be hurt; golf and tennis would lose their post season incentive. Crew is not a Southern Conference sport. Yet, while there are disadvantages the benefits seem overwhelming. Benefits that are academic as well as athletic. Many of those opposed to leaving the Conference felt that GW had to build an athletic facility first. However, to build such a facility requires alumni contributions; to get those contributions requires alumni interest and spirit in GW sports. This interest and spirit can be built by a winning basketball team of national caliber. As long as GW is a member of the Southern Conference, it will be difficult to get the national exposure necessary for national recruiting and national ranking. Thus the athletic facility will be more likely to come after a good basketball team than before one, GW is said to be a major urban university in the nation ' s capital. A national university means that we should have students from all over the country. Thus, GW must expose its name all over the country. The present student body and alumni must be kept interested in the sports program. Eighty-five percent of these groups are from the seven East coast states from Virginia through Massachusetts, this is where our athletic emphasis should be. RECOMMENDATION: After evaluating aU available evidence presented, we have reached unanimously the following conclusion: The George Washington University should sever its relationship with the Southern Conference no later than March 10, 1969. This action should become effective at the end of the present academic year. Therefore, we ask the Student Council to adopt the recommendation of this committee. Hdtchet of Flpr-pmhpt- Q t