What a change to university status means for Athletics

Steven M Miller Jr, Staff Writer


This morning, President Dana Mohler-Faria sent out an e-mail to the entire campus community informing them of the decision of the Board of Trustees to become a university or not. The e-mail basically said that the Board "voted unanimously to seek university status." In addition, "the official name change still requires an act of the Massachusetts Legislature, which will be considering the matter over the remainder of the legislative session."

As has been reported in The Comment, a change in university status would be a gradual process and no "significant" increases in the number of students or the cost of tuition. In addition, BSC would like to offer doctoral degrees and apply for grants that only institutions with "university" status would be considered eligible.

The one hurdle that the college has to face is the legislators on Beacon Hill. The Massachusetts State Legislature is currenlty considering a bill that would make give Bridgewater State College "university" status. The General Court has until June 30 to make such a decision.

Whenever the decision is made, the Athletics will have to change its stationary, its apparel, and logo.

"For the time being, we won't be bound by anything until the summer or fall or whenver BSC becomes BCU," said Athletic Director John Harper.

Harper said that they would not have to change most of the uniforms because most of them already say on the front "Bridgewater" or "Bridgewater State." For the uniforms that say "BSC" or "Bridgewater State College" Harper said that they will replace the uniforms when the time comes.

"Since the legislature has not made a decision I don't think that we will rush into this," said Harper. "We'll get the changes done when its nessesary and we can afford it."

As for the polo and long sleave shirts that Athletics personnel currently wear, Harper said that it would be a minor change.

"We would just change the lettering from 'BSC' to 'BSU' or we could go with the 'Bear Head' logo or a Bear paw," said Harper.


But the jackets that some of the sports teams and that athletics personal wear are a completely different matter. Harper said that they would have to change the way this particular logo would look.

"We havent contacted the company yet, but we are thinking that we will have it say something like 'Bridgewater State (first line) University (second line),'" said Harper. "This is just what we have been thinking about, nothing is definate yet."

If BSC makes the switch, Athletics wont have to worry about recycling its stationary.

"The college will tell us what we should do," said Harper. "Until then we will wait and continue using the same stationary."

One major change that Athletics will have to pay for in the future is the floor of the Tinsley Center gym. Harper said that they will have to move the 3-point line back one foot in 2008 (for the 08'-09' season) to be compliant with the new rule the NCAA has instituted. When Athletics makes this change on the gym floor, they will change the wording on both ends of the baseline.

"We will have to change the line a year from now," said Harper. "This is not an inexpensive project because we would have to resand the floor, repaint it, get the proper dyes, and stencils for the floor to change and look nice."

The right and left baselines of the basketball court currently read "Bridgewater State College."

As for the merchandise that Athletics sells at home basketball, volleyball, and football games, Harper said he wasnt sure what they were going to do with all of the logo that said "BSC" on it.

"We may have to have a clearance sale," Harper joked. "This has never actually happened before."

With the Bridgewater State College switching to a university, Harper emphasized that the department would not change conference affiliation's or try to compete at the Division II level.

"Whenever the change is made we will remain in the MASCAC and not change divisions," said Harper. "We are sticking true to the Division III philosophy. While becoming a university may be a natural progression (for the institution), the college becoming bigger has nothing do do with making a jump to the Division II level."

Even though the switch to a university is likely to happen within the next year or two, Harper said that he has been asked the question of jumping divisions since he became Director of Athletics in 1991.


Photos courtesy of bridgew.edu