Last Friday, three Michigan State University trustees said they would be open to potentially reinstating the swimming & diving programs. The statements mark another small victory for the groups attempting to get the programs reinstated, directly following the early February appeals court decision which ruled in the former swimmers’ favor.
According to The Detroit News, the trio of trustees made the remarks after three people lobbied for the reinstatement of the S&D programs at the most recent board meeting. The Detroit News notes that advocates for saving the Spartan Swim & Dive programs have been at every board meeting since the programs were eliminated.
Knake Jefferson, one of the trustees who spoke in support of revisiting the decision, said on Friday “I’ve been saying to the swim and dive folks, ‘I hear you, I hear you’ for quite some time.” She added “I am also going to say, I’m sorry. I am sorry that your program was cut. I am sorry that it happened the way it did.” Jefferson concluded her statement on the matter by saying she hopes the advocates for reinstating the program are able to meet with MSU President Samuel Stanley and Athletic Director Alan Haller to hear what it take to reinstate the programs. “You deserve to know what that is…you deserve to hear what that is in a very straight and transparent way.”
Dan Kelly, another trustee, says that the board is overseeing a conflict between the MSU administration and those attempting to save the programs. The conflict is around the cost of reinstating the programs, as well as how much it would cost to make the facilities competitive. According to Kelly, the differences between the two sides’ accounting on the matter is “significant.”
While this doesn’t mean that the Michigan State swim & dive programs are on their way to being reinstated, it’s another step on the road to that being possible, just like the recent court decision. Kelly was clear to say “I don’t want to create false hope,” adding that he’s simply stating his mind is willing to be changed due to the emergence of new facts and information surrounding the issue.
Citing similar reasons/excuses, East Carolina University pulled the plug on the swimming & diving programs in 2020. A Title IX lawsuit restored the women’s team, but the men continue to fight backed by pledges from dedicated swim & dive alumni. ECU Pirates & MSU Spartans have enjoyed great success in the pool over the years, and those student-athletes have had greater success in the classroom and in their chosen profession. Keep the faith & keep fighting!!
Maybe they could ask Mel Tucker for a small loan