Zoom10:
Brown just announces its cutting 11 varsity sports (making them club status): https://www.brown.edu/news/2020-05-28/athletics-excellence
Of note, these varsity sports being cut are not football, basketball or baseball, but sports generally regarded as being niche, country-club sports (fencing, golf, squash, equestrian, skiing although men’s cross country and T&F also being cut).
This begs the question, why the heck did Brown offer varsity equestrian in the first place? Ridiculous! But equally as ridiculous is Brown is adding 2 sports to varsity: coed sailing and women’s sailing.
The article also notes that Brown previously sponsored the 3rd highest number of varsity sports teams in the country, while their teams, for the most part, really stunk.
Interesting if other Ivys start cutting some sports, especially the country-club sports that disproportionately favor the wealthy. Here’s looking at you Harvard, time to dump your fencing and squash teams LOL.
Note though that Brown is not cutting the athletic budget, nor the number of athletic recruits. This action was based on task force findings from nearly two years ago, due primarily to athletic underachievement…they specifically say these cut backs are not due to covid-19. OTOH there have been many athletic department cutbacks due to covid, with more likely to come.
https://brownbears.com/news/2020/5/28/general-new-initiative-to-reshape-improve-competitiveness-in-brown-varsity-and-club-athletics.aspx