COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY TO ADD MEN AND WOMEN’S SQUASH AS VARSITY TEAMS

Club Teams Elevated to Full Varsity Beginning Fall 2011

Squash Teams Will Become 30th and 31st Intercollegiate Sport Programs at Columbia

NEW YORK – Columbia  University will elevate its club squash programs for men and women to begin full varsity competition in fall 2011, Dr. M. Dianne Murphy, Director, Intercollegiate Athletics and Physical Education, announced today. They will be the 30th and 31st intercollegiate sports programs at Columbia.

When the Columbia teams become varsity, all eight Ivy League institutions will feature varsity squash programs, meaning that it will qualify as a core sport for the league.

According to Murphy, squash has been approved for varsity status for several reasons. “First and foremost, squash is a popular sport in New York City and a program with a rich tradition in the Ivy League,” she says. “Columbia has been the only Ivy League school without a varsity program.”

Murphy notes that squash is an international sport and a natural fit for a university that is committed to diversity and globalization. “Columbia prides itself on being a truly international campus, so it makes perfect sense to offer a sport that is popular around the globe,” she explains. More than half the members of the 2007 All-Ivy League squash team hail from outside of the United States.

“Squash is a sport that attracts intelligent, young people, and is a great fit for Columbia,” Murphy continues. “In general, squash players perform at high academic levels in a variety of disciplines. This is a sport in which we will be successful.”

Gender equity also figured in the decision. “That we were able to maintain balance in our athletic opportunities for men and women was a key factor,” Murphy notes. “We are thrilled to be able to offer a larger number of athletic opportunities for both women and men.”

The establishment of varsity squash was made possible through a gift from generous benefactors Geoff Grant ‘82SEAS, a former club squash player at Columbia, and his wife, Annette, a 1983 Barnard College graduate. They have made their leadership gift through The Columbia Campaign for Athletics: Achieving Excellence. The gift goes toward establishing an endowment for varsity squash. Additional funding to operate the squash programs will come from annual fund giving and additions to the varsity squash endowment.

“I extend a special thanks to Geoff and Annette, whose gift will help make varsity squash at Columbia a reality,” Murphy says. “This could not have come at a better time, as we officially launch on The Columbia Campaign for Athletics: Achieving Excellence. We thank all the generous donors who are so committed to our athletics program.”

“Annette and I are proud to support both Columbia Athletics and a sport for which we have such a passion,” notes Geoff Grant. “Squash is similar to Columbia in that it is international and teaches lifelong lessons. We are pleased to help provide this opportunity for Columbia’s student-athletes.”

The decision to add squash had the full support of the University’s Faculty Athletic Committee (FAC). “We are pleased to approve varsity squash at Columbia,” notes David Kastan, Old Dominion Foundation Professor in the Humanities, Faculty Athletic Representative and Chair of the FAC. “Squash fulfills the guiding principles for varsity consideration laid out by the Committee.”

The teams will compete as club sports in academic years 2007-2008 and 2008-2009, and as emerging varsity teams – in full compliance with NCAA and Ivy League rules – in academic years 2009-2010 and 2010-2011. Tentative plans call for a search for a head coach of squash in spring 2008. During the transition period, the head coach will hire an assistant coach, build visibility for the program, and take a leadership role in additional fundraising.

Columbia varsity squash will partner with New York City institutions to rent appropriate courts for training and competition, as current courts in Columbia’s Dodge Fitness Center are built to North American specifications, rather than the international size required for intercollegiate play.

The Street Squash program, with which Columbia has partnered for the last nine years, is constructing a new facility in Harlem. Columbia and Street Squash have reached an agreement for the Lions’ teams to practice and compete in the new facility. Street Squash is an initiative for underprivileged local youth that provides learning and physical fitness opportunities.

“Columbia has been generous in making court time, classroom space, and administrative support available to our program,” notes George Polsky, director of Street Squash. “We look forward to working with Columbia varsity squash in the future.”