Women's athletics receives $800,000
State budget earmark will allow program to keep pave with other Division I schools

By PAUL VECCHIO
Reporter Contributor

The women's athletic programs at UB will use a $800,000 "earmark" received as part of the 2000-01 New York State budget to continue efforts to keep pace with other Division I institutions and further balance the opportunities for the university's student-athletes.

The earmark-included in the budget at the urging of Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Cheektowaga Assemblyman Paul Tokasz and with the support of the Western New York legislative delegation-brings to $1.6 million the total the UB Division of Athletics has received in the past two years in support of gender-equity efforts.

UB is the only SUNY school to receive this support from the state legislature, which comes on the heels of the university's move to Division I-A and the addition of 22 scholarships to the football program. While that reclassification raised UB to the highest level of intercollegiate competition in the nation, it also challenged the university's equity situation, which had been on balance.

"This is an amazing show of support for what we are trying to accomplish in terms of a complete and balanced Division I-A program," said Bob Arkeilpane, director of athletics. "We were incredibly appreciative of the first gift last year and are even more excited by the legislature's continued efforts. It indicates to us how supportive New York State is in the area of gender equity and further validates the exciting future of UB athletics."

Tokasz, chairman of the Assembly Tourism, Arts and Sports Development Committee, noted that the funding creates a precedent in establishing gender equity in collegiate sports throughout the state. "Certainly, this is an important step and proves that New York State is dedicated to gender equity in all areas," he said. "I am extremely pleased that this funding will make a difference in the quality of women's athletics at the university."

Added Silver: "This funding is a continuation of our commitment to the University at Buffalo and its effort to promote and enhance its women's athletic program. By making these investments, we send a strong message regarding the importance of gender equity in every facet of life, especially in education and athletics."

UB has spent nearly $400,000 from the first $800,000 earmark on a variety of initiatives to benefit female athletes, including the purchase of strength and conditioning equipment for the varsity weight room, the only work-out facility available for female athletes and men in non-revenue-producing sports; additional locker room space; a marketing study of women's athletics, and upgraded equipment and facilities for the track-and-field, softball, soccer and swimming programs. In addition, a female athletic trainer was hired in February to work with several of the women's teams.

Funding also was used to purchase three eight-seat boats, two four-seat boats and a two-seat boat, known as a pair, for the crew team, which started competing at the Division I level two years ago with only two boats. The team recognized the efforts of Silver and Tokasz by christening a boat in each of the assemblymen's names.

The university will use the latest $800,000 earmark to increase the number of scholarships for women athletes, as well as to market all of the women's athletics programs to the community.

"Gender equity is based on three factors: participation opportunity, scholarship levels and program areas," said Nan Harvey, associate athletic director and senior woman administrator. "Our participation opportunities have equated well to our overall student enrollment, but if there is an area we've been lagging in, it has been scholarship opportunities for women. This support will help bring equity to that situation as well."

Harvey noted that with the latest $800,000 earmark, UB will bring both its women's basketball (14 scholarships) and volleyball programs (10) to full scholarship numbers, with soccer (12 scholarships), swimming (11.5), track and field (11), softball (8), crew (6) and tennis (2) also receiving significant upgrades.

The softball program just completed its first season of Division I play and will join the other UB sports in the Mid-American Conference next season.

Harvey added that six of UB's top women athletes went to Albany last February to attend SUNY Day activities, and their presence there may have made a difference.

"Once the legislators had a chance to meet with many of the student-athletes being directly impacted by this kind of support, their eyes really opened," she said. "The university had some of its best and brightest there, and it was a wonderful experience for everyone. I know that this type of support is unprecedented among SUNY schools and will benefit a generation of women athletes at UB."

The athletes that attended the event were a "Who's Who" of UB women's athletics: swimmer Inger Rooneem, crew member Adrien Walker, soccer and softball standout Jaime Adams, track-and-field team member Shelly Hamilton, basketball star Catherine Jacob and volleyball standout Rebecca Ashare.

Rooneem is a three-time MAC champion in swimming. Walker is a captain of the crew team and president of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee. Adams was a second-team All-MAC selection in soccer and two-sport participant. Hamilton was UB's first female Division I All-American in the high jump in 1998. Jacob was a two-time All-Conference selection and three-time GTE Academic District All-American, while Ashare is a member of the University Honors Program member and starter on the volleyball team.