>  Jeffrey "Beeeej" Anbinder                                 [log in to unmask]
>  Development Officer, Intercollegiate Athletics      212-870-3416 (w)
>  Columbia University in the City of New York         212-870-3138 (f)
>
>It would be nice to see Columbia field a team as well as a Penn revival etc.
>It is an absolute travesty that Rutgers has no team and Montclair State has
>an on-campus rink.

Of course, when I moved down here from Cornell I discussed this issue with
Columbia's AD, John Reeves.  Obviously "never" is a long time, but he
confirmed my suspicions for me - it's *extremely* unlikely that Columbia
will ever field a hockey team, either men's or women's.

There are plenty of reasons for this, including still being somewhat behind
on Title IX gender equity (we added a women's lacrosse team a few years
ago, but there isn't a men's), and the lack of space in the area to put a
decent arena (and the lack of an existing, sensible arena relatively close
by - Madison Square Garden and Chelsea Piers are both unrealistic in the
extreme).  But mostly, it's just because there's no interest.  People just
don't come to Columbia interested in starting a hockey team.

To which I frankly have to say, Thank Goodness.  If Columbia had a hockey
team, I'd have *serious* problems at the two annual Cornell/Columbia games
with conflicts between loyalty and duty.  I don't care enough about Cornell
football or basketball, for instance, for those to be a problem, but I
would *not* want to attend a Lions vs. Red hockey game with a wealthy
Columbia alum in tow.


--
Jeffrey "Beeeej" Anbinder                                 [log in to unmask]
Development Officer, Intercollegiate Athletics      212-870-3416 (w)
Columbia University in the City of New York         212-870-3138 (f)

"Any week I get through with my eyeballs intact is a good one."
         - Michael Shappe