Save a Program

[AAVolley]

I was asked to forward this on...

I found out some bad news today. The University of La Verne is cutting the men's volleyball program. The decision was made due to budget cuts. No other sport was cut.

Before today we had no idea the program was in jeopardy. I spoke with the athletic director at-length Thursday afternoon, he said the decision was final. We were never given a chance to try and save the program.

If each one of you could call and/or email the University President and Provost it would be a great help. Let each of them know that the decision they made was completely unfair and the funds will be raised to sustain the program.

President Steve Morgan [phone] ext. 4900
President Steve Morgan's email: [e-mail]
Provost Richard McDowell [phone] ext. 4241
Provost Richard McDowell's email: [e-mail]

For those of you in the Southern California area, on Monday, June 28th at 11:00 a.m. in the ULV President's office, I have scheduled a meeting with the University President to voice our concerns. Please attend if you can.

This program has existed since the 1970's. In the past seven years it has not been ranked any lower than #7 (D3) in the national poll.

This team is a huge part of who I am. I can honestly say to each one of you that I would not be involved in volleyball today had it not been for the ULV team.

Please forward this email to everyone else in the volleyball community.

Thank you for your help,
Will
[phone]

[IdahoBoy]

Someone should have these guys talk to the guys from last year to see what else can be done.


Because I am too lazy to copy and paste, I hyperlinked these emails for others:

President Steve Morgan's email: [e-mail]
Provost Richard McDowell's email: [e-mail]


I don't understand though... is this Will guy suggesting that they will raise their own funds to remain a program? If that is the case... than why are they still being cut?

I'd like to see a URL to more information about this.

[Shirley]

Damn, they can't cut LaVerne. What will I do?

No more watching matches in the big circus tent? No more walking past the student lounge and the pool tables to get to the upstairs gym? No more stopping play to retrieve the ball out of the netting over the endline? SAVE LAVERNE!!!!

[IdahoBoy]

Surely they won't cut LaVerne.

[My2Sense]

OK... I sent my "2 cents" over to the pres and provost with this note. Hopefully you all will bombard them too. Don't let another program go down the drain.:

----------------------------------------------------------
Dear President Morgan,

As an avid Men's Volleyball fan, I write to urge the immediate re-instatement of the Men's Volleyball team.

There are more workable methods to keep the team, if they are employed. Fund raising, and a more budget-conscious schedule are just a start.

The real travesty is the destruction of the lives of those affected there. Players gave commitments to your school based on the promise of the existence of a volleyball program. Lives were altered. Loyalties were established. Futures were planned. Now, this decision wipes away all of that for those involved. The university exists to enhance the lives of its students, not destroy them. Extreme terminology? I think not. If you talk to those young men they will tell you.

There are better ways to go besides the death penalty. Support life.

Very sincerely.

[vbmom]

IB: You asked for a URL, here it is.
www.ulv.edu/athletics/

Sad day for La Verne & men's volleyball. Personally, I wish they'd shut down their women's team as they are a rival of my daughter's team - he he. But seriously, the women's team is a powerhouse, or at least has been for the past two or three years.

[My2Sense]

I got two responses today, from both people. I encourage you all to send emails to them. Let them know there are other alternatives to this, that keeping the program is important. Give them suggestions on how to run a program on a small budget. It'd be great if the UCSC Sluggs could send them a note on how you run your program. I know you drive vans, stay in player's homes and squeeze every penny you have. The club teams have ways of getting along too. Give them some suggestions.

[volleymom]

Hey My2Sense,

I heard that the Banana Slugs have also eliminated their men's program. Is that true? One of the Balboa Bay moms told me that her son was going to go up there next Fall, but the program was cut. Maybe it is just that the UCSC coach is leaving, but in any case, it's sad to see Men's Volleyball going extinct before our eyes. I will send a letter to La Verne before leaving for the JO's.

Volleymom

[My2Sense]

I haven't heard anything about their program being cut. I went to their site and there was nothing posted. And a Google search turned up nothing. Aren't there any UCSC people here? I think the thought of VB going extinct is a bit premature. One D-3 program gone, and another that we're not sure about don't sound a death bell to me! So let's all keep sending letters and better, encourage people to support the sport as much as possible. If every season ticket holder could convert one friend to be a VB fan every year, the season ticket holders would double every year.

[Eater]

What will we do without the circus tent? It's a legend!

[sponge13]

volleymom said:

I heard that the Banana Slugs have also eliminated their men's program. Is that true?
Volleymom

From what I heard, UC Santa Cruz dropped the program and did not make a public announcement. However, after the program was dropped, private funding came through to save the program for at least one year. However, coach Jay Hosack left (GA at Idaho State) before the program returned.