UVSC College Times, 2001-08-30

              EL BUEN PANO EN EL ARCA SE VENDE VOLUME 30 ISSUE 8 QUOTE OF THE DAY A. NETXNEWS n Wolter 's Law -If you have the time, you won't have the money. If you have the money, you won't have the time. j V ISSX3 SEEEETSSS v mm A Jyc J . .... V iJ J .1 J V P,V AND I OK THF Sll l)f NTS OT UTAH VAII1V STATE COM I (if A famous actresssinger killed in a plane crash. I Pfl- 7 ; ip 1 Mir -f it 4 V . ' jfc w W 4 L Women's volleyball hosts the UVSC invitational, pg. 9 Are you in favor of UVSC athletics going NCAA? Co to www.netxnews.net to cast your vote. VALLEY WEATHER TODAY: Sunny f High 92 Low 60 Wednesday: Sunny High 90 Low 59 Thum: Sunny High 89 Low 58 z (d a -- s 1 ' f : . i N t t : f I, V . I ; i V ( " i ' Mil s -' ' n km VJ !T5 H- t- C H- r - ? 5. M4Vr aiM-- 4- - , . 1 v rM''..'.ri.'ixifr'rf'S' ' J JJt.l .JIM ft 1 1 1 1 I. . . 1... v: -1 f 1 4 lh, By RYAN MENDENHALL OF THE NETXNEWS STAFF As UVSC continues its steep growth academically, athletically the institution must move forward as well. Most likely between one and five years from now, UVSC will be leaving the junior college ranks and move up to the NCAA status. Narrowed down to four potential conferences, UVSC, upon entrance, will be the only Division II school in the NCAA in Utah. UVSC is currently a member of the Scenic West Athletic Conference in the National Junior College Athletic Association. According to NJCAA regulations, the member schools' student body must be over 50 percent freshmen and sophomores. If the number of juniors and seniors surpass the freshmen and sophomores, then they no longer are allowed in the association. With UVSC receiving approval for 9 out of its 26 four-year degree programs in 2001 alone, the number of juniors and seniors is quickly rising. The transition is one that most likely will not happen within the year, but athletic director Mike Jacobson is taking a proactive approach to finding a conference before UVSC athletics is forced out of its current one. "It won't be for a while," said Jacobson. Right now UVSC is just letting others know of its interest to join a Division II conference. It may be as long as five years before ' athletes and students see UVSC in NCAA plav. Each of the four potential conferences pose their own t list of pluses and minuses, with distance and program compatibility being two main issues. The Pacific West Athletic Conference is eager to have UVSC on board and could offer good competition in women's volleyball. "They'd take us today if they could," said Brad Cook, Vice President of College Relations. However, without women's basketball and men's baseball, two of UVSC's big sports, the PWAC isn't assured UVSC will join their conference just yet. Division play in the PWAC would also take UVSC teams to Hawaii twice each season. While the athletes may enjoy the sunny weather, the pay allotted to help give teams incentive to visit is low. Increased traveling will inevitably be a part of UVSC's entrance into any conference, but optimism from many prevails. "We have excellent support from administrators. They're guiding us in the right direction," said Coach Jed Gibson of UVSCs track and cross-country team, who sees the change as a positive one. The Great Northwest Athletic Conference with schools located in Washington and Oregon is the second furthest conference from UVSC. ' The California Collegiate Athletic Association, in terms of competition, could give UVSC an exciting challenge and doesn't require football. UVSC currently has no football team and may never. "I don't ever see us having football," said Jacobson. "Football costs a lot and statistically brings more students to a college. UVSC isn't in need of more enrollments." Housed in San Francisco, the CCAA is heavy into both boys and girls soccer. Right now UVSC soccer exists as a club sport, not fully endorsed by the school's athletic program. A primary consideration in choosing to sponsor a club is that program's opportunities to play. Entrance into the CCAA or the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference may mean a boys and girls soccer team for UVSC. The RMAC offers more than a fitting name for UVSC. "It's best in terms of location and philosophy," said Cook who traveled with Mike Jacobson to three of the four conferences so far to examine their programs and evaluate potential interest. While traveling expenses and good program match up are important considerations in UVSC's search, locating interest comes first. "Now the number one priority is- finding a conference that wants us," said Cook. "None of the conferences showed eagerness in adding to their lineup except the PWAC. There are a lot of unknowns right now. Time will tell which conference UVSC chooses to call home." Increased funding will also be necessary to pay for a larger number of athletic scholarships. The athletics department will continue to grow and offer more opportunities to interested students as long as it can financially support it and as long as there's a need. With a total of ten athletic programs, UVSC has more than other schools in its conference. UVSC offers students a good J) J' : '' J V chance to get involved in a sport that they like. Although a future change to NCAA status for UVSC will most affect those with desires to participate in sports, athletes aren't the only ones who will benefit from the change. "Students will have a better opportunity to get to know the players," said President Kerry Romesburg of UVSC. (( ( . ') mm V, .. relays! . r y '-R I b 7 ncp.:y 1 r' ' 1 1 j 1 - f - f -- ; .- ...... iJ , ' I I t,A ::.y 1 1 ' ;t , .iyyy-r: y ' lm:Sy . .: . 1 1 M 4' 1 ! :,!S" I ..A In a two year I setting the interest of the spectators is limited, as is the 1 playerfan relationships.However, as more and more students stay at UVSC for bachelor degrees as they become available, NCAA status nears. Athletes who once only participated for two years in UVSC sports will stay for four. "School pride and unity can increase as the students have a chance to know their teams and players. Besides, there's a magic that comes from playing in the NCAA. It's what they see on ESPN," said Cook. UVSC, before its growth kicks them out of the NJCAA, must find an interested conference, weigh the good and bad and make a choice that will affect the future of the school for quite some time. Ultimately the decision rests upon the conference schools' presidents.Wherever UVSC ends up in the NCAA an increased travel schedule and greater funds for scholarships are in store. Heightened school spirit in this mandatory change is also a benefit UVSC athletic directors and others are anticipating. The change appears as if it will provide good results for the athletes, the students, as well as jhe community. PHOTO ILLUSTRATOIN BY LESLIE ROBERTS Campus Calendar Find the who, what, when, and where of UVSC PS 2 Opinions Is being born and raised in Utah a bad thing? pg. 5