Sia at the Game

Far too often Harvard acquires prestige in intercollegiate sports through the efforts of talented athletes who wear Crimson uniforms, but who have little or no support from the University.

As prestige increases for Harvard, so does its ability to attract top high school athletes, most of whom come here with the belief that the school runs a topnotch sports program.

Although Harvard sports clubs have much the same goals as varsity teams--recreation coupled with a winning record in intercollegiate competition--clubs do not receive comparable assistance from the Athletic Department.

Despite the financial burdens of sports clubs, participation in clubs has skyrocketed in the last three years. The number of clubs has also jumped, from 11 in 1972 to 32 as of this month.

The growth rate has been in large part encouraged by the Athletic Department, whose director, Robert B. Watson '37, often says students should spend time in an athletic endeavor.

Watson occasionally aids needy sports clubs with money gifts from his $3000 "discretionary fund" which he also uses to cover other department expenses.

One problem confronting clubs, is the haphazard manner in which Watson distributes his financial aid. One criterion for aid seems to be the department's version of Catch-22: a club needing money to build a strong competitive squad cannot receive aid until it demonstrates some degree of winning potential.

Recreation Director John Yovicsin says other criteria are considered: club size and age. Department heads do not adhere strictly to these criteria, however.

The gymnastics club, more than 10 years old, has received no financial help from the department in recent years. When the club coach resigned in 1972, the department transferred his $500 annual salary to some other department function.

Carl Rizzo '75, a club member, said last night that a high school gym coach at the Cape called him recently to ask about Harvard's gymnastics program. The coach had a senior gymnast who was interested in Ivy League competition.

"I had to be honest with him," Rizzo said. "If gymnastics is what the student wants, I said he shouldn't come here."

Some high school athletes are not lucky enough to learn about the plight of the sports clubs. The Harvard information booklet distributed to high schools draws an impressive picture of varsity, intramural and club sports.

Water polo club captain Phil Jonckheer '74 sais this fall, "People come to Harvard because of our great swimming program and expect to see a great water polo program as well. You can be sure they're disappointed."

The Athletic Department has a responsibility to make the facts known to both Harvard and prospective Harvard athletes that it plays almost no role in intercollegiate water polo, gymnastics, volleyball, table tennis and many other sports.

And instead of bemoaning budget cuts advocated by the Faculty, the department should take time to reexamine its priorities, with deference to the more than 2000 undergraduates already in sports clubs.

This does not require that varsity and intramural sports be phased out or ignored. It does require some careful scrutiny as to how the $2.7 million athletic budget can be most efficiently distributed so that the greatest number of Harvard sportsmen and women can benefit from the College's athletic resources.