Found this article while wandering around the World Wide Web:
 
CYCLONE HOCKEY CLUB WANTS VARSITY STATUS
 
        Most of the student body might wonder whether Iowa State's
hockey team is  a club or varsity sport.
        According to Holly Fuller, hockey promotions intern, "If you
surveyed the campus, I don't think half of them would be able to
answer that question correctly."
        Currently the ice hockey team at ISU is a club sport.
        Student confusion over this fact may be due to the incredible
success and popularity the hockey team has received over the years.
Hockey enjoys a tremendous following of students, faculty, alums and
Ames residents.
        Coach Murdoch said feels the rise inpopularity of hockey is
due to their frequent winning record and the fast-paced excitement of the
games.
        The difference between club and varsity sports is a club sport
is not sponsored bythe university.This means they can't compete with other
Division I teams and do not receive funding from the university.
        However, the team istrying to become a varsity sport. Coach
Murdoch has been the hockey coach at ISU since 1967 and has been taking
steps to obtain varsity status for the sport since 1969.
        He has made a formal presentation to the GSB three times and is
preparing for a fourth.
        The team is operating on a budget of between $150,000 to $200,000.
Approximately $100,000 is generated through ticket sales alone. Another
$50,000 comes from community businesses, advertising in the programs
and on boards at the ice rink. The remainder is given by over 11,000
alumni, Fuller said.
        Murdoch said the advantages of competing at a Division I level
would be the opportunity to compete in the Western College Hockey
Association, which is more attractive to recruits, offering decreased
travel, easier scheduling, and legitimate recognition for the players.
 
-- Lots of predictable quotes deleted to get to ...
 
        With so much support for the change, some people might wonder
why the club hasn't become a varsity sport yet.
        While Coach Murdoch feels the biggest obstacle is the money
issue, ISU associate athletic director Elaine Heber feels it is
compliance with Title 9 that is the problem.
        According to Hieber, the school would be in violation of
Title 9 if it added another men's sport.
        Title 9 states that the proportion of women athletes to men
athletes should be the same as the proportion of undergraduate
women enrolled at the university to men enrolled at the university.
   This also applies to the amount of money spent on mens' and womens'
athletics, Hieber said.
        A recent Title 9 review of ISU athletics found room for improvement
in nine different areas.
"To add a men's sport would take us five steps back when we are so
close to compliance.
        To provide additional opportunities for men when we still aren't
providing equal opportunities for women would be a disservice to the
university," Hieber said. "It would be like giving your son a second
serving of food before you gave your daughter anything to eat."
         When asked how he would respond to a presentation by the
hockey team to the athletic council, ISU athletic director Gene Smith
was reluctant to take a side befre hearing from the hockey team.
        "A difficult challenge we face is continually providing the
service (for existing athletic programs) we have been providing,"
Smith said.
        However, Smith would be opento listen to whatever the team has to
say.
        "I'm all ears," said Smith. "They are having an outstanding
experience as aclub program."
 
 
 
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|                   Lynn Burke    Newport News, Va.                     |
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