I feel it necessary to begin this column with a slight disclaimer Let me begin by saying I have nothing but respect for Bill Goldring. He is a fine athletic director and a good man. However, respect for a person does not mean complete agreement with that person’s policy, and that respectful disagreement is the purpose of this column.

In a recent article run by The Collegian, it was reported that Mr. Goldring would not give the green light to the JDM department and STO to air a women’s basketball GLIAC tournament game. The justification for his decision was that of cost and the possible loss of people in attendance. Mr. Goldring, with all due respect, I could not agree less.

What we have is a team that is doing as well as any team since I have been here. If there was ever a time to advertise, it is now, it is with this team. How many football games this past season were shown on STO? Were any of those games as big as the games these ladies are going to be playing in this tournament? Did the football team deserve a chance to play a televised game more than the women’s basketball team? Mr. Goldring, it is time to put these ladies above the bottom line, and give them the full support of our athletic department.

Is it realistic to think that people who would have come to the games would all the sudden just stay at home and not show their public support, because the game will be on television a few hours later? I do not think that’s what will happen. I believe that the people who would watch this broadcast would either not come to the game in the first place or would watch it again after they had gone to the game.

Mr. Goldring, although you believe that viewership and attendance is mutually exclusive, I believe that this is an opportunity we cannot pass up. I respectfully and humbly ask that you reconsider your decision to not allow this game to be aired. I would ask that you support this team. I would ask that you put these women first!