Men's rowing looks to stay above water
Carla Keppler - The Daily Iowan
Issue date: 10/16/07 Section: Metro
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While university sports clubs don't normally request money from UI Student Government, Title IX has left the men's rowing club with insufficient equipment, members said.
As a result, UISG will debate the unusual $9,000 request at this evening's Senate meeting.
Student Allocation and Budgeting Committee head Maison Bleam said the panel will recommend that UISG provide the rowing team with $7,000 to pay for a used rowing shell.
"Hopefully, the senate will amend the request upward, but it could be a really contentious debate because it's such an unusual request," he said.
Myles Melyon, the rowing club's president and coach, said he believes the team's unique circumstances require special attention.
"Equipment we have to train and bring to races is not cutting it," the UI junior said, noting the insufficient funding provided for the "very expensive sport."
In 1994, the women's team was recognized as a Division I varsity athletics team and began receiving funding from the athletics department.
As a student-run club sport, funding provided to the men's team comes from Recreational Services, and the monetary support for men's rowing is significantly less than that for the women's team.
Rowing-club treasurer Lan Huang said that in addition to the $1,800 the team receives each year, individual members pay an $225 membership fee per semester.
The bulk of this money pays for the club's mandatory U.S. Rowing membership, regatta entries, and travel expenses.
Associate Athletics Director Paula Jantz, the funding provided to women's rowing totals $597,500 this year, $23,300 of which is budgeted specifically for this season's equipment.
At present, the men's team has only one functional eight-person boat to accommodate its 22 members. Huang said this inadequate equipment forces many team members to leave.
Furthermore, Meylon said the team's existing boat models are outdated and unrowable.
"We're requesting money because we want to allow the team to grow in a positive direction," he said. "Since [Title IX], men's rowing at Iowa has been on a downward spiral."
As a result, UISG will debate the unusual $9,000 request at this evening's Senate meeting.
Student Allocation and Budgeting Committee head Maison Bleam said the panel will recommend that UISG provide the rowing team with $7,000 to pay for a used rowing shell.
"Hopefully, the senate will amend the request upward, but it could be a really contentious debate because it's such an unusual request," he said.
Myles Melyon, the rowing club's president and coach, said he believes the team's unique circumstances require special attention.
"Equipment we have to train and bring to races is not cutting it," the UI junior said, noting the insufficient funding provided for the "very expensive sport."
In 1994, the women's team was recognized as a Division I varsity athletics team and began receiving funding from the athletics department.
As a student-run club sport, funding provided to the men's team comes from Recreational Services, and the monetary support for men's rowing is significantly less than that for the women's team.
Rowing-club treasurer Lan Huang said that in addition to the $1,800 the team receives each year, individual members pay an $225 membership fee per semester.
The bulk of this money pays for the club's mandatory U.S. Rowing membership, regatta entries, and travel expenses.
Associate Athletics Director Paula Jantz, the funding provided to women's rowing totals $597,500 this year, $23,300 of which is budgeted specifically for this season's equipment.
At present, the men's team has only one functional eight-person boat to accommodate its 22 members. Huang said this inadequate equipment forces many team members to leave.
Furthermore, Meylon said the team's existing boat models are outdated and unrowable.
"We're requesting money because we want to allow the team to grow in a positive direction," he said. "Since [Title IX], men's rowing at Iowa has been on a downward spiral."
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
sue barker
posted 10/17/07 @ 7:50 AM CST
That darn Title IX!! It seems to me that if it hadn't been for Title IX and the addition of the women's varsity team, the club would still be using an old, run down barn across from Mayflower as their boathouse instead of the nice location they are in. (Continued…)
Tim Grant
posted 10/18/07 @ 11:51 AM CST
Describing rowing as "a very expensive sport" is inaccurate. Though equipment is expensive, when well maintained, it can last a very long time. In most scenarios, when you calculate budgets per person, rowing is as economical as any other sport. (Continued…)
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