ASUW, grassroots efforts defend swimming program

May 6, 2009, 12:00 AM

UW athletic director Scott Woodward has said that there is almost no chance the UW swimming program will return in any form at any time in the foreseeable future. But that's not stopping student legislators and a grassroots Facebook effort from trying to save the teams that were cut Friday as part of athletic-department budget-trimming. An ASUW resolution condemning the discontinuation of the UW's swimming program was drafted yesterday by senior senator Andrew Everett and will be reviewed by the ASUW steering committee today. The resolution requests that the UW Athletic Department do everything it can to save the swimming program, and also asks that the resolution be submitted to UW President Mark Emmert and Woodward upon its passage. Everett said the continued success of the swimming program during the past couple of seasons - despite the fact that the teams forfeit points due to the lack of a diving team - shows the program's worth. Although it's not likely the legislation will change Woodward's decision, Gerald Corporal, ASUW director of community relations who co-sponsored the resolution, said that one of the main goals of the resolution is simply to ensure that the UW's student voice continues to be heard by the administration. "I think that's the intent; to make known to [Woodward] that students don't approve of it," Corporal said. "It's just a statement in general that 'please, make sure you communicate with students' and, in this case, the student-athletes that are being affected by this. Don't just make an executive decision and throw it on us." It's also important, Corporal said, because this is the first resolution of any kind that has dealt with budget cuts. The UW is facing serious cuts in many departments, as well as the prospect of significant tuition increases. The issue is even inspiring off-campus action. Doug Djang, a junior swimmer at Seattle University, has created a Facebook group in support of the UW swimming program. The group, titled "Help Save University of Washington Swimming," had about 2,800 members as of last night. Djang thinks the UW Athletic Department could be starting a concerning trend. The group page's description includes a plea from Djang for people to help prevent the same thing from happening at other programs around the country. "I don't want to see any other swim teams die," said Djang, who is friends with many of the UW swimmers and swam competitively against the Huskies in the past. Mark Prothero, a former UW swimmer and now a criminal defense attorney, is working with Djang to rally support for the cause. He organized a meeting scheduled for tonight with a group of swimming alumni and other supporters of UW swimming to discuss a plan of action. Prothero, who swam at the UW from 1974-78, said the common thread of the group is that all members are interested in seeing the construction of a new aquatic facility. "Our first hope is to organize some of that passion and energy and figure out a short-term plan or response," Prothero said. The president of the Northwest Swimming Association and the former president of the United States Swimming Association will also be in attendance, Prothero said. Reach sports editor Christian Caple and reporter Maks Goldenshteyn at sports@dailyuw.com.

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