When Milner Hall Director Amanda Baum first came to Guilford College, she felt that something was amiss.
“I came here in September, and I noticed right off the bat that there was a little bit of a disconnect between athletics and the rest of campus,” said Baum. “When I started talking about the divide, it was amazing how many students also felt that way.”
“There are almost two micro-communities,” said sophomore Rebecca Marasco, a member of the women’s lacrosse team.
Baum was influential in the decision to bring a member of the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletics Administrators’ Speakers Bureau to speak at Guilford.
“I wanted to help us all try to come together and see the importance of developing ourselves not only in the classroom or on the field, but in the community as well,” said Baum.
On March 3, Executive Director of the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics Amy Perko spoke in Bryan Jr. Auditorium on how to intermix college sports and the community.
“(Athletics should be) a part of the institution rather than apart from the institution,” said Perko.
According to Perko, one of the reasons for the athlete and non-athlete divide is common preconceptions held about athletics in general.
In Division I athletics, the spending is increasing at twice the rate as academic spending in colleges and universities across the nation. Perko said that although Guilford is a Division III school, these statistics affect the view of Guilford athletics.
“The money creates a divide in what athletics is about,” said Perko. “Perceptions about Division I athletics seep into faculty, staff and student perceptions about Division III athletics.”
Another factor Perko brought up is the social isolation of athletes and non-athletes. She explained that athletes do so many activities together that it is hard to socialize and get involved outside of the athletic circle.
“When you are an athlete, there’s a big pressure that being athletes is the one commitment you are allowed to make,” said Marasco. “You feel that you always have to be with your team; that’s your way of bonding, that’s your way of knowing people.”
Perko spoke of the need for athletes and non-athletes to interact to bridge the gap between them.
“You have lots of common experience that you may not be able to see right now,” said Perko. “You have to step outside your comfort zone.”
Senior and economics major David Thomson, a member of the baseball team, believes that Perko’s advice will help close the gap.
“It would be beneficial in the long run if our coaches or other people forced us to try things that we would not have tried on our own otherwise,” said Thomson.
One discussion point on how to improve in this area was Serendipity. Many teams have had games during Serendipity weekend, making some athletes unable to attend the campus event.
“There has been a lot of discussion about integrating the Serendipity events so athletes can attend,” said Baum.
In the end, it comes down to how the issue is discussed and acted upon by members of the Guilford community.
“I believe we continue to perpetuate these differences among students by referring to ‘divides,'” said Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Aaron Fetrow in an e-mail interview. “Continued discussion of a ‘divide’ will only exacerbate differences among our students. Creating a false dichotomy of ‘us versus them’ is easier than truly dealing with difference.”
“It is a two-way street where athletes can try to find activities where non-athletes are going, and then non-athletes can come out and support (athletes),” said first-year sports management major Skyelar Ettin, a member of the men’s basketball team. “Once you develop that bond, you are going to want to support the other.”