By Samuel Chau
This semester York College President Claudia V. Schrader announced a new initiative to personally attend sports games and support the teams at York College, asking students to join her as part of the, “President’s Posse.”
On Oct. 6 she attended a home game for the women’s tennis team with a small but hardy group of students dressed in Cardinal red colors.
When asked about the importance of the sports teams at York College, Schrader replied, “Very important. It’s a draw for students that want to come to an institution where they can practice their craft and skill in sports. It’s a way of engaging – in teamwork.”
In a college-wide email, Schrader encouraged the campus community to join her in supporting all of York’s athletes. “There’s a lot of research that shows that students who engage in these kinds of extracurricular activities, excel in school,” said Schrader. “It’s a way to build school spirit. So it’s very important to me.”
Schrader, who became York’s eighth president last year, said she plans on making the sports teams more visible on campus. “In fact, in the cafe, on the second floor, next to the atrium, there is a huge red wall with nothing on it. I asked I.T. to find me a screen, and I only wanted to show anything related to athletics.”
The content on the screen would consist of players profiles, highlights and recent game scores. “I wish we could live stream when the college is away because I want people to come out to the games,” said Schrader.
Historically getting students to play college sports when the institution is ranked as an NCAA Division III school presents a challenge. And while Schrader understands this, she remains determined to elevate York’s athletes. “It might be D-three, but it’s still a division,” she said.
As evidenced by several of her other initiatives, Schrader is getting personally involved with this effort. Between cheering for the team and consulting members of her staff on other administrative issues, the president emphasized her commitment to supporting student athletes. “It is really important for me to be visible here,” she said.
