Standing 20 Count

Quaker Boxing celebrated itsQuaker Boxing celebrated its20th anniversary with new-foundQuaker Boxing celebrated its20th anniversary with new-foundclass status and an exhibition Not many people associate boxing with the Ivy League. But in fact boxers have been on the Penn campus since 1976. Quaker Boxing celebrated its 20th anniversary Saturday with exhibition matches and a banquet. The matches were held at Jack Costello's Boxing Club in North Philadelphia, which opened Friday. They were followed by a dinner at the Alpha Chi Rho fraternity, where Quaker Boxing was founded 20 years ago. The 20 years of Quaker Boxing has not been without its problems. In its two decades of existence, it has fluctuated between intercollegiate and class status, and at times it has been purely an underground organization, according to Quaker Boxing President Matt Robinson. The group is now recognized as a class -- similar to a dance or tae kwan do class -- largely due to the efforts of Bob Glascott, Director of Intramural Athletics. Robinson said that the group meets twice a week in the basement of Hutchinson Gymnasium and has some new equipment which the Athletic Department purchased. But since Quaker Boxing is not a club, it does not receive funding from the Student Activities Council. Robinson said he is thrilled with the progress Quaker Boxing has made to get recognized. "I had to go all the way to the president to get it done," Robinson said, adding that he also dealt with Provost Stanley Chodorow, Athletic Director Steve Bilsky and several other University officials. With Quaker Boxing's new recognition, its 20th anniversary was especially momentous. At Jack Costello's Boxing Club, the group was part of 10 staged bouts that raised money for the Boxing Scholarship Foundation. The foundation was started by Quaker Boxing coach Ron "The Yid Kid" Aurit, who also helped finance the building of the new boxing club. Aurit's Scholarship Foundation donated $6,000 to the gym. "We give the local kids money to go to college," Aurit said, adding that Penn students also help the local kids with tutoring. Aurit has had a long history in boxing. In 1973, he was a collegiate champion, and, in 1974, he won a Golden Gloves championship. He also served as Temple University's boxing coach from 1972 to 1976 and wrote a manual entitled, "A Safe Way to Teach Boxing." Many spectators packed the new gym, which is decked in red, white and blue colors and displays posters of boxing matches from times gone by. As the spectators filled the seats, the boxers were busy wrapping their hands and getting warmed up for their bouts, each of them showing the "eye of the tiger." With their trainers yelling such commands as "jab," "step out" and "move in," the boxers displayed their best. But Aurit is quick to say that his first priority is safety. "My program is the safest in the world," Aurit said. "If the boxers go to a real gym, they'll be used as dog meat. What I teach them is that they can go anywhere in the world with their heads held high." In the 20-year history of Quaker Boxing, there have been only seven bloody noses, said both Aurit and Robinson. No one has ever broken any bone or had an internal injury. "We're very proud of that," Robinson said. "We're not what people think of when you think of boxing -- but we're still very legitimate." Robinson added that there's more to Quaker Boxing than just throwing jabs. He said he thinks of Aurit as a father-figure and that Aurit is always there for the group. "He's generous to a fault," Robinson said, adding that Aurit takes him to appointments downtown and has him over for holiday dinners. "There's more to it than just the sport itself. It's the discipline -- it's the camaraderie. I can't say enough good stuff about it." Quaker Boxing Vice President Stephen Tieri, an Engineering sophomore, said he shared similar sentiments. Not only does the group instill physical strength, but it also instills self-confidence, he said. Tieri said that he is going to continue Robinson's efforts when he takes over as president next year. He said he wants to continue raising money for the Boxing Scholarship Foundation and look for a bigger space to meet. Quaker Boxing is indeed going to need a bigger space if its membership continues to grow. About 40 students are currently involved with the group, Robinson said. Although Quaker Boxing currently practices in Hutchinson Gymnasium, in the past it has practiced in the rooftop lounges and lobbies of the high rises. Robinson said the hard work he put in to getting Quaker Boxing recognized by the University was worth it. "I wanted to make sure we'd be here after I graduated," he said.

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