UNBC Rejected Again by Athletics Association
By 250 Sports
Thursday, June 09, 2011 12:08 PM
Prince George, B.C.- The Canada West Universities Athletics Association has again voted down the University of Northern British Columbia’s application for membership into the Association. The Canada West members voted today during the Canadian Interuniversity Sport annual meetings in Victoria.
“I’m disappointed by the outcome of the vote earlier today. Canada West was presented with an opportunity to expand the reach of its Association into the North, and showcase some of Canada’s best and brightest student-athletes to our very deserving region,” says UNBC President George Iwama.
UNBC and its basketball program first applied for Canada West membership in 2008 and hosted a Canada West review team that fall. In early 2009, UNBC presented its application to the full Canada West membership in Calgary. That spring, Canada West delayed a decision on new members for one year. The membership vote was subsequently held in May 2010 and UNBC’s application was not accepted. UNBC re-applied that December, this time with the addition of men’s and women’s soccer. Again, a site team visited and UNBC made a presentation to the full Canada West membership. The inclusion of a second major sport, basketball being the first, allowed UNBC to pursue Canada West’s full-membership category.
“We understood that through the addition of a Director of Athletics and a second sport, we would be in a more favourable position than last year. Unfortunately, this was not enough to change the outcome of the vote,” says Dr. Iwama. “As a community we have witnessed great accomplishments from our student-athletes and we will continue to support our students in their pursuit of excellence. We are proud of our membership in the British Columbia Colleges Athletic Association and the Canadian Colleges Athletic Association and will continue to both strengthen our Athletics program and help move these Associations forward.”
UNBC required support from 75% of the Canada West membership. The University is currently a member of the British Columbia Colleges Athletic Association competing in men’s and women’s basketball and soccer.
Canada West continues to have 13 full-members and 2 probationary members. Canada West is one of four conferences in Canadian Interuniversity Sport.
Previous Story - Next Story
Email
Print
Facebook
Twitter
Digg
Del.icio.usReturn to Sports
Comments
Posted by: billposer on June 9 2011 3:14 PMI'll play devil's advocate: what is the benefit of becoming a member of this association? That is, does it in any way improve education or research at UNBC? Does it even have much impact on the quality of life of the students? Or does it just provide better entertainment for sports fans?
Posted by: Intel1 on June 9 2011 6:30 PMSounds like the elite have their noses somewhere dark, Canada West sounds like a misnomer, should be stuffy Can.
Posted by: verballabel on June 9 2011 6:43 PM@Slim - My thoughts exactly. UNBC should not even bother with this association. It seems like such a joke that they would turn away another school to gain more competition.
Posted by: Cirocstar on June 10 2011 4:29 PMHonestly, I believe that UNBC should look to other associations like the NAIA or NCAA 3 as a long term goal. Granted, the costs to be a part of those associations will likely be greater than that of the CIS and certainly that of the BCCAA, however it will provide them with a point of differentiation when recruiting student athletes by providing them exposure to different markets and athletic opportunities. The CIS has no motivation to add UNBC in the short term as there are plenty of other universities (I use the term "university" loosely given how many colleges have been renamed universities without providing the quality of a university) dying to join the association and are located closer to existing members. Applying over and over and then getting rejected over and over does not put the school's athletic programs in a good light. Be bold, innovative and take a chance - explore other options.
Posted by: onelessstar on June 10 2011 7:24 PMUnfortunately joining the NCAA (Div. 1, 2, 3) is as (if not more) daunting a task as joining the CIS. Add to this the challenge of NCAA Div. 3 schools being not allowed to award athletic scholarships.
There is also the reality of added expense for travel (only 4 schools in Washington, 5 in Oregon - none in Idaho, Montana, Wyoming) and the lack of big name school "draws" (Whitworth University Pirates" anyone?)for attendance.
There is also the reality of added expense for travel (only 4 schools in Washington, 5 in Oregon - none in Idaho, Montana, Wyoming) and the lack of big name school "draws" (Whitworth University Pirates" anyone?)for attendance.
Posted by: Cirocstar on June 10 2011 8:37 PMThe NAIA does allow athletic scholarships and does have 10 schools in the Cascade Collegiate Conference (Washington & Oregon). The point that I am trying to make is that UNBC needs to create their own destiny. Isn't the definition of insanity doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results? The fact is, UNBC can't change its geography which is the biggest reason why the CIS will not accept them.
As for the competition, I agree, the natural rivalries are not there right now. But as we saw with the Canucks vs Bruins, the level of competitiveness and hate can build quickly. Remember, it wasn't that long ago that SFU resided in the NAIA and was able to recruit players from across Canada. Granted the landscape has changed but there are student athletes that still want to test themselves against some of the best athletes in North America.
I really believe that if the community would fall in love with this team (even more than they have already) and there was significant corporate support, they could dream big. And would it not be sweet to see UNBC stick it to the CIS?
As for the competition, I agree, the natural rivalries are not there right now. But as we saw with the Canucks vs Bruins, the level of competitiveness and hate can build quickly. Remember, it wasn't that long ago that SFU resided in the NAIA and was able to recruit players from across Canada. Granted the landscape has changed but there are student athletes that still want to test themselves against some of the best athletes in North America.
I really believe that if the community would fall in love with this team (even more than they have already) and there was significant corporate support, they could dream big. And would it not be sweet to see UNBC stick it to the CIS?
Posted by: Cirocstar on June 10 2011 8:47 PMThe NAIA does allow athletic scholarships and does have 10 schools in the Cascade Collegiate Conference (Washington & Oregon). The point that I am trying to make is that UNBC needs to create their own destiny. Isn't the definition of insanity doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results? The fact is, UNBC can't change its geography which is the biggest reason why the CIS will not accept them.
As for the competition, I agree, the natural rivalries are not there right now. But as we saw with the Canucks vs Bruins, the level of competitiveness and hate can build quickly. Remember, it wasn't that long ago that SFU resided in the NAIA and was able to recruit players from across Canada. Granted the landscape has changed but there are student athletes that still want to test themselves against some of the best athletes in North America.
I really believe that if the community would fall in love with this team (even more than they have already) and there was significant corporate support, they could dream big. And would it not be sweet to see UNBC stick it to the CIS?
As for the competition, I agree, the natural rivalries are not there right now. But as we saw with the Canucks vs Bruins, the level of competitiveness and hate can build quickly. Remember, it wasn't that long ago that SFU resided in the NAIA and was able to recruit players from across Canada. Granted the landscape has changed but there are student athletes that still want to test themselves against some of the best athletes in North America.
I really believe that if the community would fall in love with this team (even more than they have already) and there was significant corporate support, they could dream big. And would it not be sweet to see UNBC stick it to the CIS?
the curse of Len MacNamara maybe?