The Observer, September 14, 2007
Volume XL, Issue 3
Athletic department ignores students' welfare
To the Editor:
Last week's article about the tennis team ("Varsity tennis team quits: 24 players leave in protest of Coach Rahn") left out some important points. Coach Rahn did not merely fabricate one accomplishment, but fabricated every tennis accomplishment on her online bio. The administration not only refused to remove her, but refused to change her online bio until documentation of the fraud was hand-delivered to President Snyder's office. They have effectively instructed the students that it is acceptable to lie, cheat, and steal to get ahead – even if you get caught. They have also jeopardized the university's good name, for if the athletic department is not held to an ethical standard, it is difficult to trust the output of any other department.
Coach Rahn did not suddenly come under pressure. Players have been terribly unhappy with her performance for many, many years. There have been concerted efforts to remove her numerous times. Retention rates have been low, especially on the women's team, where three of the last four captains have quit, and where only a couple of seniors have graduated in the last few years.
The assertion that Coach Rahn gives "100 percent" is insulting. Last year she made a habit of skipping close to half of the women's practices. She is unenthusiastic at matches; indeed, last fall during the women's ITA tournament she asked a player if she wanted to quit in the middle of her match so they could get home earlier. At the men's UAA tournament last spring she refused to get the team either lunch or dinner on a day where the team was gone from early in the morning to after 9:00 p.m.
Finally, I cannot recall a situation where two entire teams quit in protest of a coach, especially at the collegiate level where the athletes have been participating in their sport for many years. In light of this, I find it ironic that Dr. Diles would suggest that Coach Rahn is "more than competent." If Dr. Diles wants to show that he is concerned about the students' well-being, he should immediately remove Coach Rahn so the students will return to the team and the university can move forward in a positive direction.
Joseph Smetona
Former men's tennis captain
