VOLUME 12, NO. 3     MAY 1999

Crew goes varsity

en's and women's crew will be offered as varsity sports beginning with the 1999-00 academic year. The addition of crew brings to 21 the number of intercollegiate varsity teams at the University: 11 men's and 10 women's.

"Rowing programs have been part of our club sports program for over 25 years," says Raymond R. Gilbert, director of physical education and athletics. "Varsity status will provide our students with opportunities to compete against MIT, Mount Holyoke, Smith and Wellesley for a New England Men's and Women's Athletic Conference Championship."

Worcester's Lake Quinsigamond will be home base for the teams, which will house their boats at the Donahue Rowing Center. Irving James Donahue Jr. '44, whose family supported the construction of the center for area high schools and colleges, was a member of WPI's first crew team.

More information about the history of WPI crew appeared in the January 1999 issue of The Wire.