By DEBS FRANCISCO
The Board of Trustees decided at its most recent board meeting that rugby will not be on the list of short term goals for the college. Andy Mills, Chairman of the board and Interim President of the King’s College, explained the postponement of the rugby program at the all-campus announcement on Wednesday October 28.
“It is a good idea for the right reasons,” Mills said. “It’s just not the right time.”
The program proposed 30 full-tuition scholarships to field a competitive men’s rugby team by the fall of 2010. It was first announced in September by former President J. Stanley Oakes that the college would institute the rugby program as a strategic initiative to promote the vision of the college. The initial announcementwas received with mixed reactionsamongst students and staff alike. The Board voted to postpone the program until a point in time when the college is under less transition in other areas.
According to Mills, the decision was made in light of pressure from the economy, the timing for the school as it makes leadership changes as well as the school’s immediate task of reinvigorating the core of its original vision.
Students present at the all-campus meeting had mixed reactions to the announcement that rugby is being postponed.
“I trust and support the Board’s decision,” sophomore Logan McDonald said. “It’s clear the Board definitely wants sports at King’s, but thesteps needed to start Rugby are not the best to take right now.”
While some audibly cheered about the announcement, other students were not as pleased.
“I’m disappointed,” Senior Emma Schalber said. “I don’t know whether or not Rugby at King’s was a practical idea but I was excited for what I thought it could do for the school.”
