2008 Woodie Awards
Athletic Community Not Appealing to Athletes
Student athletes express concerns over housing plan
Jordean Matthews
Issue date: 3/24/08 Section: News
In a move that has angered many student athletes, Lincoln University is planning to create Athletic Communities with the goal of forcing all student-athletes to live together beginning in the fall semester.
"Ms. [Genyne] Royal, Dean [Thelma] Ross and housing thought it would be a good idea," said Natasha Wilson, Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance . "They thought it would help with structure and be better for location and timing as far as keeping track of athletes."
Male student athletes and band members will be housed in the Living Learning Center North, and female student athletes and band members will live in Lucey Laney.
"I don't want to live in LLC," said Anthony Bishop, a sophomore on the track team. "The bathrooms are dirty and the rooms are too small."
Some athletes said that they don't want to be limited by just staying with other athletes.
"Track is a year round sport," said Kester Lewis, a freshmen track and field standout. "When the other teams are out of season, they will be staying up partying and acting like fools. How are we supposed to sleep when we have meets the next day?"
Wilson said that with over 230 athletes on campus, administrators were forced to choose buildings that could accommodate all of the athletes.
"I don't think it's fair because they never had a meeting with all the athletes to ask anything about the arrangements," said Donneisha Smith, a volleyball player who is also on the track team.
A meeting was scheduled two weeks ago with Wilson and members of the male track team to discuss issues and concerns that they expressed about the new housing arrangements. It's unclear what transpired at the meeting, though Wilson promised to bring the students' concerns to the attention of Dr. William Bynum, Vice President of Student Affairs.
"Ms. [Genyne] Royal, Dean [Thelma] Ross and housing thought it would be a good idea," said Natasha Wilson, Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance . "They thought it would help with structure and be better for location and timing as far as keeping track of athletes."
Male student athletes and band members will be housed in the Living Learning Center North, and female student athletes and band members will live in Lucey Laney.
"I don't want to live in LLC," said Anthony Bishop, a sophomore on the track team. "The bathrooms are dirty and the rooms are too small."
Some athletes said that they don't want to be limited by just staying with other athletes.
"Track is a year round sport," said Kester Lewis, a freshmen track and field standout. "When the other teams are out of season, they will be staying up partying and acting like fools. How are we supposed to sleep when we have meets the next day?"
Wilson said that with over 230 athletes on campus, administrators were forced to choose buildings that could accommodate all of the athletes.
"I don't think it's fair because they never had a meeting with all the athletes to ask anything about the arrangements," said Donneisha Smith, a volleyball player who is also on the track team.
A meeting was scheduled two weeks ago with Wilson and members of the male track team to discuss issues and concerns that they expressed about the new housing arrangements. It's unclear what transpired at the meeting, though Wilson promised to bring the students' concerns to the attention of Dr. William Bynum, Vice President of Student Affairs.
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