Athletics have 'comfortable' role on campus

In larger schools, athletics are priority number one. Coaches court students and those most sought after receive athletic scholarships and assurances of athletic glory. At Tufts, however, the story is not quite the same; but the athletics program is content with its position beneath academics and is confident that its merit still is valued.

"There is a proper role for sports to fill," Athletic Director Bill Gehling said. "Sports can get out of context. I'm very comfortable with our place on campus now, I think we have it right."

The annual budget for the athletics program is one to two percent of the overall Arts and Sciences budget of $230 million. This money is spent on salaries and other direct expenditures such as equipment costs. Any additional expenses are paid through fundraising.

The athletics budget is decided along with the rest of the Arts and Sciences budget. "As with any budget, there is always a need to make sure the budget reflects academic priorities," Executive Administrative Dean of Finance Wayne Bouchard said.

"There is always budget pressure," he said. "I would have to say that whenever we have a budget challenge, we always revisit priorities and athletics are part of that _ but there is no discussion about cutting athletics' budget."

The small percentage that athletics does get from the budget is adequate, says Gehling. "I fully understand that the University has priorities," he said. "I don't feel that we aren't valued here. I feel we are treated with respect."

The construction of the new Gantcher Athletic Center is an example of sports fundraising in action. Former athletes and parents of current athletes along with the contribution of Tufts Trustee Nathan Gantcher, played an integral role in raising the necessary nine million dollars for the Center, which houses an array of indoor tennis courts and a state-of-the-art indoor track.

The University's role in Athletic Department construction projects is to help by "closing the gap" for funding, Bouchard said.

Because Tufts provides no athletic scholarships, the general budget does not earmark any specific money for athletics either. Instead, the process of choosing prospective athletes is similar to what most other applying students go through. Coaches do, however, alert admissions to prospective students they are interested in seeing attend the University.

"Each coach will let us know who their hot prospects are," Assistant Director of Admissions David Brunk said. "We will look at them closely, and for very qualified and really talented athletes this can certainly help them in the admissions process."

But athletes are under the same scrutiny as any other student, Brunk said. "We don't admit any unqualified athletes, just like we don't admit any unqualified legacies or staff kids," he said. "We'll just look at them as a little more qualified." Less than one percent of athletes get special consideration overall, according to Brunk.

Tufts is looking for a balanced and diverse group of students and athletes play a part of that diversity, Gehling and Bouchard agreed.

The University depends on athletes as well because of their role in fundraising campaigns after they graduate. The development office has not yet gathered data that shows that Tufts athletes support the University more in alumni donations, but there is anecdotal evidence.

"We do find that alumni that became members of affinity groups support more often and more generously," Senior Director of Development Gary Lowe said. "Our numerous athletics teams are an example of that."

And though Tufts might not have the spirit of a Division I school, those involved with athletics herald their contribution to the feeling of community.

"As the community becomes more diverse, the question is how do we unify amidst diversity while celebrating it," Gehling said. "Athletics teams can do that for participants as well as the entire community."