Quest University in B.C. announced earlier this month they are suspending the school’s varsity athletics program after basketball season is over in March, according to a news release.
Jasmine Aimaq, director of communications at Quest University, said the decision came after the school’s administration saw the need to redistribute the resources that went into the varsity program into other services for students.
George Iwama, president of the university, told CBC News that the varsity program costs approximately $300,000 to $400,000 a year.
Aimaq said in an email that a working group will soon be assembled and will seek feedback from students, faculty, and staff to determine “the best offerings for the whole Quest community.”
She added that this might mean there will be greater emphasis on intramural sports, fitness classes, or helping the students access recreational areas near the university.
“Another consideration was diversity and equity,” Aimaq said. “A large proportion of financial aid has gone to varsity athletes. Diverse students have many different types of talents, so diversity and inclusiveness would be better served by organizing financial assistance programs differently.”
The decision is affecting 60 athletes, including Kyra Boulding, a third-year student at Quest University and member of the women’s basketball team.
“I mean, obviously I’m extremely disappointed,” she said. “I think athletics has brought a lot to this school and can bring a lot to every university in terms of diversity and community, but I think I’m a little bit more upset with how they justified the decision to us and how they went about telling us what the decision was.”
Alexander Elliott, the head coach of the men’s soccer team at Quest, said he’s “deeply saddened” by the decision.
“I will not let that dim the light on the amazing successes, memories, and relationships that have been created,” he said in an email.
While Elliott declined to comment on whether he will lose his job, he said his time and energy will now go towards helping student athletes finding other varsity athletics programs that will be fitting for them.
He said having an athletics program is important because it gives students a sense of pride and belonging to the student body.
“Varsity programs notoriously produce students with high level leadership and teamwork skills. Those that thrive in these setting understand the importance of community and selflessness,” Elliott said.
While some athletes will be staying at Quest, others will look to transfer over to another university in order to continue their athletic career, according to Boulding.
“For me, it means that my athletic career is cut short a year, I’m going to have to stay here to finish my degree because I’m in my third year,” she said.
She added that transferring schools in February is going to be “extremely difficult” for other athletes since school might have already set their rosters for next year.
According to the CBC, a petition to denounce the suspension was created in the hopes of overturning the university’s decision.
Photo by Meagan Casalino
