As of the end of the 2020-2021 academic year, Stanford University has stated that the Women’s Field Hockey program will be discontinued along with ten other Varsity activities. Stanford announced that this was a “final” decision without consulting or informing the coaching staff, student-athletes, or alumni. The institution’s actions and reasons for those acts are an obvious breach of trust and a planned attempt to squelch opposition as a university that prides itself on its relationship to alumni and the local community. We demand that the university and athletics department be held accountable for the financial mismanagement that led to this decision being made. For the sake of saving the field hockey program, we ask that they open up a dialogue with the community regarding their decision-making process. Co-create a plan to weather this economic slump and maintain field hockey at Stanford by working together with us.
I am a former Stanford field hockey player who is now a coach for a local club team. I was born and raised in the Bay Area, where hockey is a big part of my life. When I was 12 years old, I decided to take up the sport, having already been outplayed by my peers in other sports like soccer. Because field hockey is a lesser-known sport, I was able to see the direct effect my career choice had on my high school and club programs after graduation. Field hockey was the first sport that felt accessible to me because it was less popular. Many people have grown due to participating in field hockey, including myself. It was an opportunity for me, a young lady from Gilroy, California, to attend a prominent four-year university and earn a degree that will alter the course of my entire life. It taught me some of the most important lessons of my life: how to fail, learn from failure, and be resilient. My team and coaches were there for me when I needed them most, and this experience showed me the power of community.
This decision will have far-reaching ramifications for the whole West Coast hockey community and the entire country. Since my days as a young player in California, I’ve seen the number of players and teams in the state skyrocket. With the help of Stanford and the other California college D1 teams, I was able to recognize myself in their student-athletes, as well as strong female leaders who would serve their communities after graduation. As a Stanford field hockey team member, I’ve had a profound impact on my life and the lives of countless others. Field hockey at the youth and collegiate levels stands to lose a lot if this program is removed, and the precedent is set for all non-revenue sports going forward.
Students, current students, and other colleges will be wary of Stanford’s action since it shows that it no longer cares about its non-revenue sports and would heartlessly slash items that don’t improve its business line. Is Stanford not aware of its ability and influence to expand the reach of sports beyond its borders? By adhering to Stanford’s core principles, the university acknowledges its responsibilities and purposeful impact on the global community. There is no doubt in my mind that when this choice was made, they were unaware of the long-term consequences. Because of their status and influence, Stanford may use their participation in these sports to expand their involvement in other sports and broaden access to a wider range of sporting possibilities. My faith in the university has been shaken by how this decision was made and communicated.
