WSSU trustees vote to stop move to Division I

By: John Dell | Winston-Salem Journal
Published: September 11, 2009

By John Dell
JOURNAL REPORTER
Winston-Salem State University has stopped its drive to Division I.
The decision to continue to compete in Division II and rejoin the CIAA was made Friday afternoon, by the school's board of trustees at a specially called meeting on campus.
Chancellor Donald Reaves, who has researched the move to Division I over the last 18 months, presented a detailed resolution that the board unanimously approved.
"This has been a difficult decision," Reaves told the board. "…but it's time to move on."
Since leaving the CIAA and starting the transition to Division I five years ago, WSSU's athletics department has lost more than $6 million. Reaves projected that the deficit would grow to $15 million by 2012.
Reaves said that the university's continued funding of the athletics program was taking away from academic endeavors.
The transition started in October 2004 when Reaves' predecessor, Chancellor Harold Martin, had a vision to upgrade athletics as the student body increased.
"It is my hope that the emotions will subside and that folks who have supported the university will continue to do so," Reaves told the board.
Reaves met with all of WSSU's coaches after the meeting and planned to meet with all the athletes on campus.
Those athletes, many of whom believed they were being recruited by a Division I school, will have their scholarships honored.
"We will be working with each student directly impacted by this change," Reaves said. "We will provide advice and financial support, as well as helping them decide what is their best interest."
WSSU sponsors 15 sports, and Reaves said that some could be eliminated. He added that any athletes affected would be helped at every turn.
"We must do whatever it takes to support these student-athletes," Reaves said.
Tonia Walker, the interim athletics director, said after the meeting that she was 100 percent behind the decision.
"I fully support the decision by the chancellor and the board, and now we need to focus on being the best Division II program that we can be," Walker said.
John Dell can be reached at 727-4081 or at jdell@wsjournal.com

WSSU trustees vote to stop move to Division I

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