URI Alumni Blast Athletic Department Performance, Call for Reform
Friday, July 11, 2014
A petition being circulated among University of Rhode Island alumni calls for reform to the Athletic Department that it says “continues to fail to perform up to standards of the past.”
“Competitive programs are needed to generate fan interest that has deteriorated over several years, increase university support and nationally promote the University of Rhode Island as a top tier educational institution,” the petition reads.
Read the Entire Petition Here
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThe Petition calls for the creation of a 6-8 member “URI Athletic Department Alumni Advisory Board” effective September 1 of this year.
“None of the sports teams are performing up to their previous standards,” said Richard Sceery, URI class of ’82 and author of the petition. “This isn’t about being derogatory about the program, it’s really more to help the University with helpful criticism and advice.”
Sceery said the Board would meet once per quarter and put together plans and suggestions for URI athletic Director Thorr Bjorn and University President Dr. David Dooley.
“Having a completely independent board, with no faculty members, current students, or anyone directly tied to the program, that will allow us to express our opinions without fearing repercussions,” Sceery said.
Sceery said he and a small group of alumni put the wheels in motion on creating the board, and support among alumni is growing rapidly.
URI Responds
“We always welcome feedback from fans and alumni, and Thorr’s always had an open door policy,” said URI Associate Athletic Director Mike Laprey. “We’re open and we’ll always have that open door policy.”
Laprey told GoLocalProv that URI already has plans to put together a fan forum to solicit feedback on everything from the athletic program to food, concessions, and music during games at athletic facilities.
“We have a lot of alumni groups, a lot of external groups that we meet with outside of our department,” Laprey said. “When you look at who we’re competing with in the Atlantic 10, the Big East, Providence College, even the ACC to an extent, I think we’re doing everything we can to keep up.”
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