REPORT from the MANAGING COMMITTEE the Winds of Change Blow Ever Stronger Over Crew
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A NEWSLETTER FOR THE FRIENDS OF MIT CREW Volume 19 Number 1 SPRING 2001 REPORT FROM THE MANAGING COMMITTEE The Winds Of Change Blow Ever Stronger Over Crew This issue contains information from We think crew is underfunded, espe- One concern about supporting rowing many sources—the speech by MIT Presi- cially based on the number of partici- is whether to support programs that are dent Vest at last fall’s annual dinner; pants and the number of student hours reduced to non-Sprint competition (see remarks by Coach Frailey at the dedica- per year spent on training. Some would Pete Peterson’s column). At this time, MIT tion of an eight-oared shell in his name, say, however, that crew is overfunded is considering whether to downgrade also last October; a column by compared to other sports. Some women’s rowing further. We need to pro- MIT’s new athletic director, ask why the rowers should vide all of the moral support we can Candace Royer (a must work out all year. The con- muster to emphasize to the MIT adminis- read); information from The concern has been cern has been raised that tration that this would be the wrong the coaches about the raised that the demands of the demands of rowing choice. Do we stop supporting crew fi- crews; a guest column rowing may be inconsistent with may be inconsistent with nancially because of the uncertainty? You by Pete Peterson, a long- MIT’s academic focus and stan- MIT’s academic focus must make your own choice. time contributor to row- dards. Your input to the MIT and standards. Your input But be assured that the Friends Man- ing at MIT; and an intro- to the MIT administration aging Committee is committed to encour- ductory column by the administration on these on these issues is needed. aging use of alumni dollars by MIT to en- chair of a new Friends of issues is needed. We have told the administra- able the students to compete at the Crew regatta committee that is tion that rowing complements highest levels. We are working with intended to support the teams by the academic focus of MIT and that Dean Benedict and Athletic Director encouraging alumni attendance at races. rowers at MIT want to compete with the Royer to update the agreement between Much is happening, and a great deal Ivies in rowing just as they do academi- Friends and MIT to support specific goals is at stake. Our message to you is that we cally. Please add your voice. (continued on page 10) must be involved and we must stay in- volved for the long haul. The challenges that have faced all athletics at MIT can be addressed, but they will not be cor- rected in one year. (A column we had hoped to include from Dean for Student Life Benedict confirms his desire to in- crease the athletic department budget as a whole over the next several years.) Our financial help and vocal support can contribute significantly to enabling today’s undergraduates to have the best possible experience in competitive inter- collegiate rowing. Director Royer’s column provides in- formation about the challenges facing crew at MIT. You may not know that MIT is an NCAA Division III school for many sports. Rowing has traditionally not been an NCAA sport but rather regulated under the EARC and EAWRC. In recent years, women’s rowing became an NCAA sport; men’s rowing still is not. Equally important, however, is the MIT administration’s perception of what is a fair level of support for each sport. 2 SQUARING THE BLADE MIT CREW: VOICES FROM THE PAST HELP WANTED Alumni Update Us About Their Lives Regatta Committee LOUIS W. MAXSON ’44 notes that his St., Sudbury, MA 01776; e-mail: claudi Forms, Needs youngest son, Bruce, was recently pro- [email protected]. moted to vice president and general manager of Verizon California Opera- DAVID COPELAND ’81 was light- Your Participation tions. Louis fondly looks back on win- weight coxswain 1979-’80, and now he is ning races and collecting shirts from chief thermal engineer of Showa Alu- As the 2001 spring racing season crews that MIT beat. Send him best minum Corporation in Japan. He married gets under way, the newly formed Re- wishes at 917 Taylor Ave., Godfrey, IL Rika Watabe in December 1997, moved gatta Committee is looking for enthusi- 62035; [email protected]. back to Japan in February 1998, had a astic members to support the MIT crew son, Tsutermu William, born September teams in their quest for victory. Formed Writes JOHN W. LEONARD ’47, “At a 1998, and joined Showa in March 1999. to ensure a strong backing at regattas, reception and dinner with Lou Holtz in “I take frequent trips back to the U.S., just the committee will provide a home his glory days at Notre Dame, he asked about every month.” He’s crossed paths base for the rowers and alumni, com- me where I went to school. I asked him with RUSSELL MURPHY ’82, who was plete with food and cheering section, how many varsity sports Notre Dame also a lightweight and who is now assis- at all home races and major away had. ‘Eighteen,’ he said. I said, ‘We have tant professor of economics at Virginia races. Check racing schedules for re- 40.’ ‘Incredible,’ he exclaimed. ‘Where is Tech. David enjoys looking back at beat- gattas in your area. If you are interest- that?’ I replied, ‘The jock center of the ing Yale in 1979 and remembering the ed in supporting the rowers by helping western world—MIT.’” Other of his mem- sunny, calm mornings in the spring before out with the committee, please contact ories from his crew days are talking with the wind and the traffic would start. He Katy Croff at [email protected]. WILD BILL REYNOLDS and beating Har- also enjoyed steering close to the buoys vard three times, Washington, California, in the Head of the Charles. Write him at Princeton, and Wisconsin. Greet John at 5-7-21 Nahakuki, Oyama-shi, Tochigi- 1012 Wyndemere Dr., Boise, ID 83702. ken 323-0806, JAPAN. SQUARING IRWIN STERMAN ’55 resides at 15 In- We congratulate BARBARA MES- THE dian Hill Rd., New Rochelle, NY 10804; SINGER-RANNERT ’81 on her promotion [email protected]. to associate staff of the internal medicine BLADE department at the Cleveland Clinic. She is “I have just retired from TRW Avionics active in research, clinical medicine, and A NEWSLETTER FOR Division in San Diego and have started a teaching and has a special interest in geri- THE FRIENDS OF MIT CREW new career in the fiber optics communi- atrics. She volunteers at the Cleveland VOLUME 19•NUMBER 1 cation industry,” writes MIKE MYERS ’57 Free Clinic. Drop her a line at 5600 (12947 Creek Park Dr., Poway, CA Hawthorne Dr., Highland Heights, OH MANAGING COMMITTEE OF FRIENDS 92064; [email protected]). He passes 44143; [email protected]. DUSTIN ORDWAY ’74, CHAIR along the following: “PAUL POLUSHUK is president of Information Gatekeeper in SABRINA BERNOLD ’95 notes that she JOHN EVERETT ’76 Brookline, Massachusetts.” His favorite recently began business school at Stan- JOAN WHITTEN MILLER ’80 memories include the trips made by train ford. She has crossed paths with MEELAN JOHN MILLER, MEMBER EMERITUS to Dartmouth and Princeton. “I can still LEE, PRASHANT DOSHI, and BABAK smell the spring down there in Princeton. AZAD-TATARI. Get in touch with Sabrina DIRECTOR OF CREW Thanks to Jack Frailey for his great coach- at 680 Serra St., E478, Stanford, CA VACANT ing. I still work out on my Concept II 94305; [email protected]. every day.” WOMEN’S ROWING Reports CLAUDIA W. BUSER ’81, a VARSITY HVY. & LT. COACH SUSAN LINDHOLM process engineering group leader, “I NOVICE COACH BILL PATTERSON have been at Genzyme (Framingham) for five years. I have three children: An- MEN’S ROWING drea (7), Alexander (5), and Ariel (2). I VARSITY HVY. COACH GORDON HAMILTON can’t remember the last time I rowed a FRESHMAN HVY. COACH MIKE LANE crew shell, but I have been canoeing in one or two New Jersey races with my VARSITY LT. COACH IAN HUTTON husband yearly. Also, we canoe with FRESHMAN LT. COACH ANTHONY BROCK our children.” She well remembers row- FRIENDS MANAGING COMMITTEE ing against Columbia University in the The Master Eights (men), 1980 Rowing [email protected] Harlem River and her first Foot of the Club, Massachusetts. John Everett ’76 is Charles race. Write Claudia at 12 West the #7 seat. SPRING 2001 3 ABOUT MIT ATHLETICS AND CREW… MIT Rowing At A Critical Communication Crucial Juncture—Views Of An As MIT Grapples With Old Oarsman NCAA Rule Changes By Cornelius “Pete” Peterson crew succeeds only when the By Candace Royer CEO NETsilicon Inc. whole team works together MIT Athletic Director Bldg. 227 and is bonded in commitment In January 2001, Dean 411 Waverley Oaks Rd. and trust that each will give his for Student Life Larry Waltham, MA 02452 or her best and all. That spirit, Benedict announced a Tele: 781/398-4510 understanding, and trust comes new department head Fax: 781/398-4867 only from long hours together, and director of athletics [email protected] honing disparate skills into a for MIT. As a long-time www.netsilicon.com single machine. An abbreviat- member of the coaching MIT is wrestling with the ed schedule will not provide and teaching staff and tough challenge of how to po- the environment needed for most recently serving as sition the crew program at MIT that.