March 2018

I don't have many bad days in my life.  Tuesday was a bad day.  Eastern Michigan University, my alma mater, chose to cancel the athletic program that helped create the person I'm proud to be.  It's the classic budget cut argument, while they fully fund other programs nobody seems to be a big fan of.  Eastern Michigan Men's swimming is the most successful athletic program in University history.  It boggles my mind as to why they would cancel such a successful program.  One of the arguments was facility costs.  Naturally because the women's team wasn't cancelled, and the Jones natatorium will continue to be maintained, the argument is entirely invalid.

I feel like a part of me died yesterday.  I've always been proud to have represented Eastern Michigan University Mens swimming.  I was never blind to it's shortcomings either. Although the program was never flush with cash or especially thankful for our achievements, we were proud and we just kept winning.

I'm most sad for the athletes.  Some programs in this situation give it one final year.  It gives swimmers, alumni, and the community time to raise money or at minimum, find some closure.  Due to how this was handled, I feel as though everybody was robbed of that privilege.  The kids on the team will now be scrambling to find a new school to attend, or sadly, may give up collegiate swimming entirely due to relocation, credit transfer, or other factors.

Shame on you Eastern Michigan University.