Justin Bernick and Chip Knighton

Task force recommends restructuring athletics

In a report presented Friday to the Board of Visitors, the Virginia 2020 Strategic Planning Task Force for the Department of Athletics recommended restructuring the University's 24 varsity sports into four tiers to combat an athletics program deficit that is projected to reach $47.4 million by 2010. The task force also recommended the elimination of men's indoor track and field and the addition of women's golf in order to address the budget deficit and Title IX concerns regarding equality between men's and women's athletics. If the changes are approved, women will make up 51 percent of the University's athletes, up from 47 percent.