‘Shame on you': Athletes, students react as Quinnipiac eliminates D1 women's rugby
Quinnipiac University is eliminating its varsity women’s rugby program and replacing it with a men’s distance track team. The university said that, at the conclusion of the current competitive cycle, the girls’ rugby team will become a club sport.
The Athletic Communications Department released a statement, saying in part, “the initiative aligns institutional resources with long-term competitive priorities, fiscal sustainability, and the University’s ongoing commitment to Title IX compliance.”
In that statement, The Director of Athletics, Greg Amodio, said, “These decisions are never easy, but they are essential to ensuring that Quinnipiac Athletics remains equitable, competitive, and sustainable for the long term.”
After the news broke, some people took to social media to share their disagreement with the decision.
That included Quinnipiac graduate and Olympic medalist, Ilona Maher, who played rugby at QU. Maher shared an article on Instagram, tagging the university and the athletics department.
“Shame on you @quinnipiacu @quathletics,” Maher wrote on her Instagram story.
“It’s completely unfair, I’ve talked with my roommates about it,” said Katherine Yalanis, a sophomore at Quinnipiac University, who is also on the club running team.
Another student said he found out on the social media platform YikYak, and was surprised.
“If you’re coming here on a scholarship and now all of a sudden it’s getting demoted, I feel bad for them,” said Nick Apa, a senior at Quinnipiac University.
NBC Connecticut reached out to the university to see whether those who have rugby scholarships will still have those honored, and we’ve also reached out to the NCAA. As of now, we have not received an answer to that question.
The university, however, said in its statement that it hopes the affected students will choose to stay at QU, but recognizes that some may want to pursue other opportunities.
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