We just heard it on the radio. Here is a link to the story:
http://www.nis.wvu.edu/2004_Releases/ri ... tement.htm
The WVU rifle team has been reinstated!
Moderators: pilkguns, m1963, David Levene, Spencer, Richard H
The team members worked very hard at keeping the issue in the news, attending gun shows, and generally being a real burr in WVU president Hardesty's butt. Many of the team members this year are seniors and will not benefit personally from this reinstatement.
The team, being the only WV team that has ever won anything, is very popular in the state and in the legislature. Budgets are generally getting cut this year, some a lot and some not as much. I think the legislature used this to help "persuade" Hardesty.
The team, being the only WV team that has ever won anything, is very popular in the state and in the legislature. Budgets are generally getting cut this year, some a lot and some not as much. I think the legislature used this to help "persuade" Hardesty.
Definitely a cross between an inspirational and a cautionary tale, that!pdeal wrote:The team members worked very hard at keeping the issue in the news, attending gun shows, and generally being a real burr in WVU president Hardesty's butt. Many of the team members this year are seniors and will not benefit personally from this reinstatement.
The team, being the only WV team that has ever won anything, is very popular in the state and in the legislature. Budgets are generally getting cut this year, some a lot and some not as much. I think the legislature used this to help "persuade" Hardesty.
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Roy McClain
West Virginia is BACK !!!!!
http://www.nis.wvu.edu/2004_Releases/ri ... tement.htm
News and Information Services
News Release
Back to Newsroom
Thursday, March 25th, 2004
WVU to reinstate rifle for ’04 season
CONTACT: News & Information Services 304-293-6997
An outpouring of public and private support for West Virginia University's rifle program, including a $100,000 commitment from the West Virginia Legislature, will allow the team to return to NCAA status, WVU President David C. Hardesty Jr. announced Thursday (March 25).
“ West Virginia University officials have made a decision to reinstate the rifle team as an NCAA sport as of July 1, 2004, ” Hardesty said, “ and to continue the newly formed rifle club. ”
The team will remain under the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics; the rifle club will remain a student organization within Student Affairs.
Hardesty noted that the University made a “ painful and difficult decision ” last spring to eliminate rifle and four other varsity sports. But he stressed that the decision was based on the constraints of the dwindling budgets and support.
"The Department of Intercollegiate Athletics at the time had little choice and made an appropriate, good-faith decision," he said.
Director of Athletics Ed Pastilong added, "The financial support provided from the state budget will allow us to reinstate the rifle team as an NCAA varsity sport. Our charge is to field competitive athletic teams while remaining self-sufficient. Increased operating costs, including increases in tuition, forced us to make the difficult decision that many institutions have had to make in reducing the number of sponsored sports. This legislative funding will provide an immediate operating budget for rifle, and potential fund-raising efforts by the rifle club and other supporters may allow us to increase the sport ' s funding in the future."
Hardesty stressed that over the past few years, the loss of more than $30 million, due to a combination of state budget cuts to WVU and additional state insurance costs, has forced the University to make many difficult fiscal decisions, “ sometimes eliminating programs or activities that people across the state value dearly. ”
The decision to eliminate rifle, he added, energized a support base across the state – from the halls of the state Capitol to citizens on the street.
"The outpouring of public and private support we ' ve received on this issue has been overwhelming," he added. “ Without the financial backing the team has received, the University just could not justify reinstatement with funding from the institution's general budget. ”
Hardesty stressed that the University is committed to maintaining the University's 16 current NCAA sports, in addition to rifle: baseball, men's basketball, women's basketball, women's cross country, football, women's gymnastics, women's rowing, women's indoor track, women's outdoor track, women's soccer, men's soccer, men's swimming, women's swimming, women's tennis, volleyball and wrestling.
Hardesty said the future of the rifle team will be dependent on continued state support and pending private support.
He said that the university faces ongoing budget problems that will impact all of its operations. In addition to the $30 million WVU has lost in the past several years, the institution's budget will be cut another $7 million (including main and HSC campuses) in the coming fiscal year.
"We face many difficult decisions in the future," he added, "and we need the support of the Legislature and the University's many alumni and friends."
News and Information Services
News Release
Back to Newsroom
Thursday, March 25th, 2004
WVU to reinstate rifle for ’04 season
CONTACT: News & Information Services 304-293-6997
An outpouring of public and private support for West Virginia University's rifle program, including a $100,000 commitment from the West Virginia Legislature, will allow the team to return to NCAA status, WVU President David C. Hardesty Jr. announced Thursday (March 25).
“ West Virginia University officials have made a decision to reinstate the rifle team as an NCAA sport as of July 1, 2004, ” Hardesty said, “ and to continue the newly formed rifle club. ”
The team will remain under the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics; the rifle club will remain a student organization within Student Affairs.
Hardesty noted that the University made a “ painful and difficult decision ” last spring to eliminate rifle and four other varsity sports. But he stressed that the decision was based on the constraints of the dwindling budgets and support.
"The Department of Intercollegiate Athletics at the time had little choice and made an appropriate, good-faith decision," he said.
Director of Athletics Ed Pastilong added, "The financial support provided from the state budget will allow us to reinstate the rifle team as an NCAA varsity sport. Our charge is to field competitive athletic teams while remaining self-sufficient. Increased operating costs, including increases in tuition, forced us to make the difficult decision that many institutions have had to make in reducing the number of sponsored sports. This legislative funding will provide an immediate operating budget for rifle, and potential fund-raising efforts by the rifle club and other supporters may allow us to increase the sport ' s funding in the future."
Hardesty stressed that over the past few years, the loss of more than $30 million, due to a combination of state budget cuts to WVU and additional state insurance costs, has forced the University to make many difficult fiscal decisions, “ sometimes eliminating programs or activities that people across the state value dearly. ”
The decision to eliminate rifle, he added, energized a support base across the state – from the halls of the state Capitol to citizens on the street.
"The outpouring of public and private support we ' ve received on this issue has been overwhelming," he added. “ Without the financial backing the team has received, the University just could not justify reinstatement with funding from the institution's general budget. ”
Hardesty stressed that the University is committed to maintaining the University's 16 current NCAA sports, in addition to rifle: baseball, men's basketball, women's basketball, women's cross country, football, women's gymnastics, women's rowing, women's indoor track, women's outdoor track, women's soccer, men's soccer, men's swimming, women's swimming, women's tennis, volleyball and wrestling.
Hardesty said the future of the rifle team will be dependent on continued state support and pending private support.
He said that the university faces ongoing budget problems that will impact all of its operations. In addition to the $30 million WVU has lost in the past several years, the institution's budget will be cut another $7 million (including main and HSC campuses) in the coming fiscal year.
"We face many difficult decisions in the future," he added, "and we need the support of the Legislature and the University's many alumni and friends."
Teams Return
I am so thrilled to see a team being returned this is such a boon to the very core of the shooting tradition of the USA. I only hope more schools such as the U.S.Merchant Marine Academy restore shooting sports to their programs as well. The loss of these shooting programs on the High School and Collegiate levels are a tribute to knee "JERKS" who seek to eliminate Columbines by substituting a closed range and sport as the answer. The old "head in the sand" reaction---out of sight out of mind---my conscience is henceforth clear.