News for March 21, 2004

Skaters Give Final Performance? The sychronized skaters performed at home for perhaps the last time as a varsity sport. Efforts to restore the sport were evident at the performance including a circulating petition that collected 369 signatures (total petition signatures to reinstate the programs stands at 2567). Hundreds of flyers promoting our movement were handed out and 'Save Our Sports' t-shirts were sold. Channel 3 News also covered some of the BBT activities.

Caps and Shirts Still available!! The Spirit Shoppe is still selling embroidered 'Save Our Sports' hats at cost. You can pick one of these up at their store on Howard Street for $6. You can also purchase souvenir 'Save Our Sports' T-shirts at Gazelle Sports for $9!

Western Student Association Resolution #20 passes! The student association voted in favor of a resolution to reexamine the decision to eliminate some varsity sports. The resolution, which passed by a wide margin, states that the Student Senate believes that the university loses more money than it gains in savings from eliminating the men's track program as well as the women's synchronized skating program. Further more it stands against the elimination of any sports team and supports an external review of the athletic department's budget to determine what the cost efficiency is of all 18 sports sponsored by WMU in 2003-2004 so as to more appropriately balance the budget.

Legislators Back BBT!! Five out of the nine state legislatures in Southwest Michigan have signed a letter in support of Bring Back Track's efforts to reinstate the track and synchronized skating programs. This letter was to handed to Greg Rosine, WMU's Vice-President of Legislative Affairs, on March 15 to be immediately given to the WMU's Board of Trustees.

Detroit Free Press Article! Doug Kurtis' article gives our group visibility in the Detroit Area! Click here for article!

News for March 16, 2004

Kris Seats is All-American at NCAA Indoors! Kris finished in the top 8 Americans in the 800m at the NCAA Championships. The NCAA indoor championships will be covered on ESPN2 on March 17 (CORRECTION!) from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

What is a "Commitment to Pledge"?? We need to show the Administration that Bring Back Track can help raise a significant amount of money for a future T&F Program. Of course we want the eventual money to go to a fund in the WMU Foundation. On the other hand, we don't want any money to go to the Foundation until we have some assurance that Track will be Back! To convince the administration that there are people out there that would support a WMU T&F program with their wallets, we are asking you to "commit to pledge" should T&F be reinstated. "Bring Back Track" will never actually collect any money. This is just to show there is support. When T&F is reinstated, we will assist the Foundation in their fund raising efforts. Please go to Pledges to show your support for the continuation of one of the most prestigious T&F programs in the world.

News for March 12, 2004

Sync Skating on TV! The WMU Senior Synchronized Skating Team's performance at the National Team Skating Championship will be televised on April 9, at 8:00 am. on Lifetime television. The top 5 teams who finished at nationals will all be televised which will include Western.

WMU's Synchronized Skating Team places 1st in the National Championships in San Diego March 7! [more...]

WMU Middle Distance Star at NCAAs on March 16!! The NCAA indoor championships will be covered on ESPN2 on March 17 from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. WMU 800m Specialist, Kris Seats, automatically qualified when he ran a 1:48.30 which ties for the 13th fastest time in the nation. Former WMU runner, Aaron Nasers has also qualified for the 800. It is quite likely that the men's 800 will be featured. [more...]

Bailey visits Alumni in Florida! The Bring Back Track organization gained more visibility in Florida with key alumni standing up and speaking out at President Bailey's fundraising stops at Naples, Sarasota, and Tampa (March 2,3,5) . We were even fortunate enough to have champions of the T&F Program at dinners with President Bailey. These former track alumni personally spoke to her about their opposition to the decision to cut sports at Western. Thanks to all the track alumni who were present at these meetings and there willingness to take a stand on this important issue.

News for March 7, 2004

Improvements to the website coming! We have enlisted some help to give out website a better look and make it easier to navigate. Look for the new site sometime in April.

Eastern Michigan Univerity Alumni Dinner! On February 27 Peter Livingstone-McNelis was invited to speak at an EMU alumni gathering following the Mid-American Indoor Track & Field Championships. Peter, President of Bring Back Track, told 200 EMU alumni about WMU's administrative decision to eliminate the four sports and the underlying reasons behind the cuts. Both before and after his remarks other speakers talked about the great rivalry that exists between EMU and WMU and also how much "extended family" exists between the two programs. Some notable examples are:

Former EMU Head Track & Field Coach, Bob Parks, was a former WMU assistant coach under George Dales;

Phil McMullen, former EMU competitor and Olympian, wife is Jill Stamison who competed for Western and who upon graduating qualified for the World Championships, and whose brother...

Paul McMullen competed for Western and was an Olympic Trials Qualifier; and

Kelly Lycan Western Head Women's Track & Field coach served under Bob Parks' daughter (Sue Parks) when he was an assistant track coach at Ball State.

At the alumni dinner both the coaching staff and EMU alumni pledged their support in our efforts to have track reinstated at WMU. Among the several EMU alumni and supporters who approached Peter with their support include: Mike Franko, 2004 Olympic Marathon Qualifier, Dr. Sandy Herman, nationally known track announcer, and Gary Bastian, 4 time Mid-American Decathlon Champion.

Petitions still available for signing! Students have collected over 2200 signature protesting the sports' elimination and demanding their return. You can still sign a petition at Gazelle Sports, Burdick Mall, Kalamazoo, MI 49001.

News for March 5, 2004

Latest Position Paper from the Committee! Click Here