AD candidate not a hit with students

Twenty five students met the first of four finalists for the position of athletic director Thursday. The visitor, Assistant Director of Athletics at Middlebury College Gail Smith spoke about her vision for athletics, but not about her vision for Oberlin.

"It sounds like you're struggling a bit," Smith said about the state of athletics at Oberlin. Her solution was vague, but her spirit was positive.

Smith is one of four final candidates for the search for a new Athletic Director (AD). The current AD, Don Hunsinger, decided last year that he would not seek to renew his contract after this year. The search began early this semester with a standard search procedure that was slightly augmented with the addition of an outside consultant to help screen the candidates.

The committee narrowed the approximately 55 applicant broad search to eight candidates who were flown into Cleveland last weekend for interviews with the search committee. From those eight, four were chosen as finalists and each will visit the campus in the next two weeks.

Smith said she has been in the business a long time. She spoke about her enthusiasm for athletics and how she feels athletics is an integral and vital part of any education.

"I see my job as being an educator for using our mind and our body," she said. "There are a lot of skills you learn on a team that are lifelong skills that will help you the rest of your life."

At the student meeting with Smith, a number of club sport athletes raised concerns of how she would support club sports. She was apparently confused. After some club athletes explained the ongoing struggle they have had with the athletic department for funding, Smith said she believed club sports were primarily the responsiblity of the students that were on them.

"At Middlebury we have crew, cricket, rugby...ultimate. That's about it. Our club sports program is a mechanism to attain varsity status," Smith said.

Search committee member women's soccer coach Blake New noticed the worry of club athletes at the meeting. He believed Smith's response was appropriate given the structure of the athletic department today.

"The problem is more the infrastructure that's in place," New said. "People don't understand the structure that's set up. That needs to be solidified."

Men's Ultimate Frisbee team member sophomore Eric LeBlanc who attended the meeting Thursay said he believe club and intramural sports would not benefit directly from Smith becoming AD. "Her club and intramural record does not look that good," LeBlanc said. "But she talks about working with the trustees. That seems to be her strong point," he said.

Smith said the use of administrative pull was neccessary if the athletic department is to improve. "Institutions change what's going on if there's institutional will. I will lobby for that," she said.

Students also questioned Smith about her attitude toward the mix of town residents and the college students that is seen in athletic department facilities. "My own point of view is that athletic facilites are first and foremost here for students. Second are faculty and staff, and others should be by invitation," she said.

Smith said the college should do out-reach by conducting clinics for children in the community. "Building the connections doesn't mean just opening the door. I'm not a big fan of renting college space for money," Smith said.

The meeting ended about an hour after it started with Smith asking what students wanted from an athletic director. Women's Rugby player senior Tara Ikenyoue said, "If we are going to be supported in the athletic department, we need an advocate."

Smith said, "We need to formalized the relationship between the athletic department and club sports."

"My personal style is open, honest, fun-loving and free. That's a lot like Oberlin, isn't it?" Smith said.

Three more candidates for the postion of athletic director will visit the campus the week of May 11. Andrew Hamilton from Grinell College, Jane Betts formerly of MIT and Julie Davis of Carleton College will each spend a day and a half meeting with students, administrators and faculty as well as exploring the town.

New said the search process went well for the most part. "There are always bumps in the road, but I'm excited. We feel the President has the best interest of the department in mind and the dean is on the same page," New said.

The consultant also helped with the development of a strong pool of candidates, New said. "She knocked on a lot of doors and did a lot of foot work," New said.

The committee entertained two current members of the athletic department in the search. New said one withdrew early on in the search and the other withdrew later.

"They all have their strengths," New said. "We have four excellent candidates."

The committee hopes to make a decision shortly after the last candidate visits on May 15. The job starts July 1.