Spring Break
Golf team raises funds to continue program
by Ian Cutler
Sports Editor
Sports | 4/7/09
Posted online at 2:18 AM EST on 4/7/09
The varsity golf program will continue for at least one more season after members of the golf team raised close to $22,000 in donations to cover its costs, according to three members of the team.
The University has not yet officially announced the return of the team for next year, but it hopes to do so after the April break, according to Dean of Student Life Rick Sawyer.
Captains Aaron Hattenbach '09 and Alex Podell '09, as well as Aaron Cusato '12, told the Justice that the team would return next season.
"I think [the Athletics Department] wanted to allow [Hattenbach] to make the announcement himself and have some kind of press conference," Sawyer said, adding that "I can't say they're definitely coming back next year."
However, Hattenbach said, "For now, I can tell you now we're going to have a team next year, and the [Department of Athletics] wants to make it official after April break."
The team has raised $21,115 from about 80 donors, Hattenbach wrote in an e-mail to the Justice. He also said there are "two more $500 pending pledges that are not included in [the $21,115] figure." The cost of running the golf program is $22,000, according to Director of Athletics Sheryl Sousa '90.
"Things are looking good but we are still waiting to record a few more deposits before we can confirm that all the money needed has been raised," Sousa wrote in an e-mail to the Justice. "These funds will hopefully be collected over the next week or so and we should be prepared to issue an announcement when students return from break."
"We're going have a team next year, but nothing has been confirmed," Custato added.
The team previously learned that the University planned to terminate golf as a varsity sport at the completion of this spring season in a meeting with Sousa Jan. 26.
At the meeting, she told the team that an estimated$22,000 was needed to support the team for one more season by the time the annual budget was approved at the Board of Trustees meeting March 25. But despite not having the exact amount needed by the time the Board of Trustees met, Sawyer said the Board had no problem approving the team's status for next season.
The University has not yet officially announced the return of the team for next year, but it hopes to do so after the April break, according to Dean of Student Life Rick Sawyer.
Captains Aaron Hattenbach '09 and Alex Podell '09, as well as Aaron Cusato '12, told the Justice that the team would return next season.
"I think [the Athletics Department] wanted to allow [Hattenbach] to make the announcement himself and have some kind of press conference," Sawyer said, adding that "I can't say they're definitely coming back next year."
However, Hattenbach said, "For now, I can tell you now we're going to have a team next year, and the [Department of Athletics] wants to make it official after April break."
The team has raised $21,115 from about 80 donors, Hattenbach wrote in an e-mail to the Justice. He also said there are "two more $500 pending pledges that are not included in [the $21,115] figure." The cost of running the golf program is $22,000, according to Director of Athletics Sheryl Sousa '90.
"Things are looking good but we are still waiting to record a few more deposits before we can confirm that all the money needed has been raised," Sousa wrote in an e-mail to the Justice. "These funds will hopefully be collected over the next week or so and we should be prepared to issue an announcement when students return from break."
"We're going have a team next year, but nothing has been confirmed," Custato added.
The team previously learned that the University planned to terminate golf as a varsity sport at the completion of this spring season in a meeting with Sousa Jan. 26.
At the meeting, she told the team that an estimated$22,000 was needed to support the team for one more season by the time the annual budget was approved at the Board of Trustees meeting March 25. But despite not having the exact amount needed by the time the Board of Trustees met, Sawyer said the Board had no problem approving the team's status for next season.
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Laura Clos
posted 4/07/09 @ 11:29 AM EST
Congratulations to the members of the golf team for turning a catastrophe into a resounding show of character and collaboration. They should be rewarded with the support of the University and the opportunity to compete for Brandeis in their chosen sport. (Continued…)
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