The Department of Athletics, Physical Education, and Recreation has concluded another year of commitment to continuous improvement of opportunities and services provided to the MIT community despite seven senior colleagues' early retirement at the end of Fiscal Year 1996. Additionally, the Visiting Committee reviewed the department on May 1-2, 1996.
The department's mission is as follows: To provide an adaptive, high-quality, student-oriented athletics, physical education, and recreation (intramural) program that emphasizes participation, competition, confidence, and leadership while enhancing the athletics and health fitness environment for the entire MIT community.
During Fiscal Year 1996, the department faced many challenges. It was asked to reduce the scope and cost of the proposed Central Athletics Facility (CAF), improve the Pierce Boathouse's facilities for women, and proceed with renovation of other existing facilities. Personnel matters required adherence to Equal Opportunity/ Affirmative Action guidelines and consideration of professional development and support. The trend towards part-time coaches decreased the number of instructors available to Physical Education, impacting course offerings. Reduced sports and support program operating budgets also complicated efforts to provide high-quality competitive experiences. Additionally, the greater number of female students at MIT demanded compliance with gender equity and appropriate handling of requests for varsity status. Therefore, the intercollegiate scheduling/budget relationship was strengthened to manage a cost-effective, competitive program given inflation and conference requirements. The department extensively reviewed support needs and devise strategies to accommodate reoccurring costs from advances in computer technology. Balancing increased graduate interest and constant environmental constraints was an important task for the Intramurals program. The MIT Athletics Card Sales program was not exempt from challenges as interest in physical fitness continued to grow. Finally, strict budget constraints had to be given consideration in meeting each challenge.
The department also achieved the following accomplishments. With assistance from the Planning Office, a revised CAF plan was developed to aid in fundraising. New locker room space was completed at the Pierce Boathouse, enlarging the area available to female rowers and increasing weight room size. Recently approval was granted for renovation of the west tennis courts during the summer of 1996. Additionally, computerization continued in the department. Most notable were the new Physical Education lottery on Athena and the Athletics home page on the World Wide Web with development of individual team pages that piqued much interest. Despite financial constraints, the department maintained the number of intercollegiate sports available to student-athletes, increased or sustained each sport's competitive level, and encouraged coaches' professional development. After serious searches in which women and minority candidates were encouraged to apply and received careful consideration, new coaches and staff were hired. These hires (five women and nine minority individuals) added valuable experiences and diversity to the department. A position combining the women's tennis coaching responsibilities with management of the Tennis Bubble was created, enhancing program offerings and providing more accessible and attentive management without increased salary costs. An orientation program was established for new hires. Increased monitoring of facilities produced a greater awareness of safety and security, improved signage and security (cipher locks in strategic locations and a reduced number of access doors) and hours that more accurately reflected general usage, especially at the Alumni Pool and the Health Fitness Center. The duPont Equipment Desk was redesigned to promote general efficiency and the ability to locate and dispense equipment to coaches and athletes. A secondary service area was also established in the Johnson Athletics Center. The investigation into field space available at University Park and elsewhere continued; this proved to be a long-term project. Additionally, the department worked with Housing and Food Services to provide food service after 7 PM. This year Baker dorm offered full service until 8 PM. This appeared to meet student-athletes' needs, and the Baker nutritionist was sensitive to their special requirements. Furthermore, the department successfully staged several special events, most notably the first ever co-educational Intercollegiate Fencing Association Championship. Two crew shells (Anne McKinnon `75 and Charles O. Jackson) were dedicated this year.
Registrations for 1995-96 were 7930, 262 fewer than last year. Undergraduates taking classes for credit numbered 4600 while 3300 (undergraduates, graduates, staff, spouses, alumni) registered as non-credit students. Sixty-five courses were offered with the highest registration coming from aerobics (1579), skating (909), and weight training (585). Thirty-seven credit courses and 4 non-credit courses were offered during IAP, accounting for 1661 registrations. Ten courses are being offered during the summer.
This past August a new registration system (PELOTT) was launched. PELOTT is an Athena-based selection system developed in cooperation with programmers from the Administrative Systems Development group. The lottery has proven successful. Of the 6447 people registered in the five lotteries this year, 82% received their first choice.
For the third consecutive year, the staff was responsible for the MOYA project. The staff trained 120 student-leaders and then supervised them on August 24 with great success.
The department's club program continued to be popular with 36 offerings and approximately 700 participants.
The overall record for women was 97 won, 86 lost, 0 tied (.530); for men, it was 206 won, 168 lost, 3 tied (.550). The combined record is 303 won, 254 lost, 3 tied (.544).
Rhodes Scholar Winner Toby Ayer `96 (crew) led a talented group of 12 student-athletes receiving 12 national scholar-athlete awards. Additionally, the men's cross country team earned a team award for excellence in athletics from the Division III Cross Country Coaches Association. Jeff Morrow `96 received a postgraduate scholarship from the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics for his work with MIT's Marching Band.
The department was fortunate that Larry Anderson joined the staff this year as Assistant Professor of Physical Education and Head Coach of Men's Basketball. Other new coaches were Head Coach of Women's Volleyball and Softball, Cherry Bennett; Head Coach of Men's Volleyball, Tom Klemas; and Head Coach of Wrestling, Jim Carls. There were three very positive additions to the athletics training staff this year: Assistant Trainers Robert Eberly, Kimberly Goulding, and M. Cristina Monterroso. Arthur Russell joined the administrative staff as Administrative Coordinator of Equipment Rooms, bringing with him a wealth of experience.
Seven senior colleagues chose to accept MIT's early retirement incentives. They were as follows: Professor Emeritus/Golf Coach Jack Barry who first came to MIT in 1959 and retired for the first time in 1987; Associate Professor E. Jane Betts who was hired in 1976; Associate Professor/Baseball Coach Francis C. O'Brien who came on board in 1969; Assistant Professor/Sailing Master/ Head Coach of Women's Sailing Harold "Hatch" Brown who began as instructor/coach in 1967; Associate Professor/Lightweight Crew Coach Peter Holland who joined the department in 1969; Assistant Professor/Range Master/Pistol Coach Pasquale "Pat" Melaragno who became a department member in 1977; Associate Professor/Men's and Women's Ski Coach/Assistant to the Department Head for Facilities and Operations David Michael whose career at MIT began in 1963; and Equipment Staff Administrator Pasquale "Pat" Ferrara who had served the department and MIT community since 1974. These retirees will be very much missed by the department and Institute community.
In addition to the early retirements, other personnel changes occurred. Sandra Tenorio recently joined the Day Camp and Intramurals support staff in place of Inge Kilduff. Brian Callahan left the Alumni Pool Service Staff this year to become a lifeguard. Joe Clark left the utility staff to work for the new West Campus Zone in Physical Plant.
The area of sports medicine changed dramatically during 1995-96 with the influx of new personnel. Their energy and expertise greatly enhanced this important support service. The Coordinator of the Training Room, Kathy Davis, was afforded the opportunity to complete coursework toward her Ph.D. while managing her responsibilities at MIT. Renovation of the training room brought about an improvement in overall service, morale, and energy.
Richard A. Hill