Salovey: An Ally For Athletes?

The Yale community is ready to enthusiastically welcome current Provost, Peter Salovey, to the presidency next year.  Across campus, students rave about Salovey’s instantaneously likeable and enthusiastic personality.  Teachers and faculty members admire his character, dedication, and unwavering commitment to Yale.  We are all ready to see the positive changes that the psychology-loving, bass-playing Provost will put into effect next year.

For many students though, a major concern on their minds is the amount of attention (or lack thereof) that the current president pays to athletics. Although President Levin works diligently on behalf of his students, many have complained that the athletic program has often been placed on the backburner.  It is widely known that Levin has not always been a strong advocate for athletes.  It is no coincidence that as of spring 2012, Yale had a mere 800 recruited athletes, the fewest in all of the Ivy League. With the election of Salovey, however, athletes are optimistic that he will bring the same enthusiasm to the fields as he does to the classroom. After all, the ball is in his court.

Salovey has already given athletes something to be excited about.  In a recent interview with The Yale Herald, Salovey commented that despite his busy schedule, he would find time to attend the important games.  Said Salovey, “I will be at the football game Saturday.  In fact, if all goes well, I’m going to try to be at the football game, the volleyball game, and the basketball game.”

So why exactly is it so important that Yale has a president who emphatically stands behind his student-athletes and their commitments?  Yale female varsity athletes from across the board weigh in on the issue.

While discussing the matter with fellow athletes, it was clear that presidential support is important to success. Commented Caroline Rouse ‘15 of Women’s Golf, “Yale athletes are proud to play for Yale.  It reinforces the sentiment when it feels like the president and administration support us in competition.”  Continued Rouse, “As an athlete and member of the Yale community, I’d like to see our teams be competitive.  A lot have had success, but all of our teams deserve to compete at that level.”

Speaking of teams that have had success, Maddie Rudnick ’15 of the championship winning Women’s Volleyball team agreed that administrative support is a definite confidence-booster for student-athletes.  No stranger to hard work and competition, Rudnick commented, “Students adopt the reasoning of faculty members.  Clearly, President Levin did not favor athletes and I think President Salovey will speak about student athletes in a much better light. This will influence the faculty and, consequently, the students.”

Jenny Butwin ’13, who captained the Women’s Soccer team this past fall season, agrees with Rudnick’s concept of a “trickle-down” effect. A psychology major, Butwin also has experienced Salovey in a classroom setting.  Said Butwin,  “He is really enthusiastic, relatable and engaging, and I think student athletes will like that approachable quality.” 

It is natural that with a supportive administration, the recruiting process would be more user-friendly than it currently is.  Said Rouse, “If people show enthusiasm for our teams, that definitely helps attract recruits.”

Chelsea Dunlap ’14 of Women’s Swimming agrees, but argues that the change in mentality would be the most important result of a supportive president. Said Dunlap, “Even just from a mentality standpoint, regardless of actual recruiting and financial regulations changing, athletes will be able to feel confident stepping on the field.  Everyone wants to know that when they compete, their school has their back.”

We won’t know for sure how Salovey will transform the administration system until next year, but one thing is for sure. Students are extremely frustrated with the current athletic system.  Athletes are no longer hoping for a change, they are demanding one in the right direction. And with President-Elect Peter Salovey’s enthusiasm and dedication to all things Yale, the goal seems closer now more than ever.