© Kirby Lee | 2019 May 2
In a announcement that foreshadows what is likely an unfortunate trend for universities across the nation, Stanford is cutting 11 varsity sports following the 2020-21 school year, citing a massive deficit due in part to the coronavirus.
The 11 sports that will be discontinued are men’s and women’s fencing, field hockey, lightweight rowing, men’s rowing, co-ed and women’s sailing, squash, synchronized swimming, men’s volleyball and wrestling.
The school announced the decision in an open letter to the Stanford community on behalf of president Marc Tessier-Lavigne, provost Persis Drell and Bernard Muir, the athletic director. The school says they will continue to honor all scholarships already given out, and will do their best to assist students wishing to transfer.
“This is heartbreaking news to share,” the administrators wrote in the letter. “These 11 programs consist of more than 240 incredible student-athletes and 22 dedicated coaches. They were built by more than 4,000 alumni whose contributions led to 20 national championships, 27 Olympic medals, and an untold number of academic and professional achievements. Each of the individuals associated with these programs will forever have a place in Stanford’s history.”
Stanford says they were on pace for a $12 million deficit by the end of the fiscal year before the pandemic hit, a number that would nballoon to a cumulative shortfall of $70 million over the next three years if the school did not cut sports programs.
“The primary alternative to this decision would have been a broad and deep reduction in support for all 36 of our varsity sports, including the elimination of scholarships and the erosion of our efforts to attract and retain the high-caliber coaches and staff needed to provide an unparalleled scholar-athletics experience,” the administrators wrote. “After considering the effects of this model, we determined that operating our varsity athletics programs in this manner would be antithetical to Stanford’s values and our determination to be excellent in all that we do.
“While painful, the discontinuation of these 11 sports at the varsity level and the associated reductions in our support staff will create a path for Stanford Athletics to return to fiscal stability while maintaining gender equity and competitiveness.”
