"Club Sports, Students Clash Over Cuts"

Some students are accusing UB's club sport teams of making cuts, which they say violates SA guidelines because the clubs are funded by the mandatory activity fee.

Club sport officials say that some students don't make the playing squad, but that they are not fully cut because they are given the chance to practice with the team or help manage the team.

"Everyone is allowed to participate on some level," said SA Club liaison Ryan McGowan. "Officially there aren't allowed to be cuts -- through guidelines, everyone who pays the (mandatory) fee can be on the team. But by the mandatory activity fee guidelines, no cutting is allowed."

Senior David Cory, however, said that SA clubs do in fact cut team members after a try-out period.

Cory said he tried out for the men's ice hockey team this semester, and claimed he was cut from the team. According to Cory, not being allowed to play is akin to being cut.

"The coach told me that he'd like to keep all of the players who tried out, but that it wasn't feasible," said Cory, finance and human resources major. "He (the coach) basically told me I was too small and too old."

According to Cory, 40 students tried out for the team and only 26 were kept. Cory added that he was told he would not be allowed to play in games or even practice with the team.

Ryan Donnelly, president of the men's ice hockey team, disagreed with Cory, saying there were absolutely no cuts when it came to the team roster.

"We give anyone the opportunity to join," Donnelly said. "We are only allowed to dress 20 people, but we give the rest of the guys other options including to practice as part of the team and to help manage the team and help it in any other way."

Donnelly said when the players are informed that they will not play in competitive games they are given other options and team opportunities. He added that although 25 people in total are on the team, only 20 could play at a time.

Since about 40 people tried out for the team, and only 25 people are currently on the team, Donnelly did say that some of the players chose not to continue.

Donnelly refused to comment on whether or not Cory was cut.

Andrew Bowen, a student in the school of management, said he also got cut from the men's club ice hockey team this year.

"At the time, I didn't realize cuts weren't allowed," Bowen said. "I was a little smaller and I wasn't one of the better players so I kind of expected to get cut. The coach told me I needed to put on 10 or 20 pounds, and get smoother in my skating. He also told me I was second on the list of call backs."

Bowen added that he didn't remember being told he could continue to practice with the team, but that he was told he could be serve as some sort of team manager.

The men's club ice hockey coach, Matt Baumgarten, was unavailable for comment.

SA President Anthony Burgio agreed that club cuts, if they are happening, are a big issue.

"Since I've been in office, it hasn't been a problem," Burgio said.

Burgio added that if he does find out that any teams are cutting members, SA will take action.

Some clubs do maintain different levels within their organization for students who don't make first squad. B or C teams are formed in addition to the main competitive team.

Men's club soccer, for instance, has this arrangement. Both of its teams compete competitively.

One student who wished to remain anonymous was faced with the same sort of cutting issue when he tried out for the men's soccer club last year and said the problem runs much deeper than whether cuts are merely happening.

"Essentially, they do cuts," he said. "And these cuts aren't necessarily based on skill level. Skill wise, they are cutting people that were better than the ones that made the team. It's a student-run club, so students will put their friends on first."

The student added that he and his friends started their own intramural team after they were cut from the club team.

"There's a large fraction of the club team on an intramural team as well, and they played us last Sunday night and we beat them," he said.

Dennis Black, vice president for Student Affairs, said he wasn't aware of students getting cutting from club teams.

"I think it's counter-intuitive that not everyone makes the team," Black said.

Burgio added that clubs represent SA's involvement with the student body.

"Cuts are a serious issue," he said. "This is our biggest area of concern with clubs."