Bilsky announces plans to restructure Recreation Department

When two high-ranking administrators in the Recreation Department recently retired, Athletic Director Steve Bilsky saw an opportunity to make some structural changes within the department. In recent months, both Bob Glascott, the Director of Intramural Recreation Sports, and Ann Wetzel, the Coordinator of Racquet Sports, retired from their posts. Seeing some inadequacies within the Recreation Department, the administration decided that some restructuring was needed. According to Senior Associate Athletic Director Carolyn Schlie Femovich, the administration's plans revolve around streamlining the Recreation Department. "Rather than multiple levels of management, we've taken out the middle level," Femovich said. "The key is finding a new director to strengthen the programs and services on an urban campus like Penn's." Along with a new director to replace Glascott, the administration will also hire two new recreation assistants. Femovich is quick to point out that the restructuring is not occurring for financial reasons, but to enable the department to more smoothly operate. "It's not a cost-cutting measure. It's putting more energy into making the department more efficient," Femovich said. "It's reorganizing so that hopefully new and improved recreation programs will come about. It's an opportunity we saw with two people retiring." However, the administration's plans have not come without opposition. According to Undergraduate Assembly representative Josh Rockoff, a rising College junior, the plans serve only to draw money and manpower away from the Recreation Department and toward the Athletic Department. "I don't think Bilsky cares about the recreational athletes on campus," Rockoff said. "He's put the Recreation Department on the side-burner. The Recreation Department has been short-sided on their budget. Bilsky's focus is on the Athletic Department rather than the Recreation Department." Rockoff went on to say that the entire reorganization is a power play by Bilsky to gain more control over the Recreation Department. "Bilsky wants to put his own people in," Rockoff said. "There's nothing wrong with that, but the Rec Department needs strong leadership. There's so much work to do. I don't see the benefit of the Athletic Department taking over the Recreation Department." But Femovich dismissed Rockoff's assessment that Bilsky is seeking more personal control. She noted that as Athletic Director, Bilsky manages the Division of Recreation and Intercollegiate Athletics, which includes both the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics and the Recreation Department. Bilsky, in fact, already oversees the Recreation Department and does not need any changes to gain more authority, Femovich said. Rockoff's greatest concern is that recreational sports on campus will be neglected. "The facilities here are not up to par for a Division I university," Rockoff said. "The weight rooms are atrocious. Upgrades need to be made. And right now there's no one who knows how to run the fall programs, like intramurals." Femovich agreed that improvements need to be made concerning facilities, but believes that the restructuring will serve to facilitate, not inhibit, improvement. "One quality we're interested in in a director is those leadership qualities," she said. "Obviously some improvements need to be made in our facilities. We're looking for someone to lead those plans. This is an effort to improve recreation facilities, gyms, weight rooms, recreation classes." Rockoff fears that the administration will funnel more attention and money to the intercollegiate programs, while cutting back on intramural programs. "The percentage of people involved in intercollegiate athletics is miniscule relative to those involved in intramurals and with the Department of Recreation," Rockoff argued. "With graduate students, families, staffers, there are tens of thousands of people who use the Department of Recreation. Relative to that, there are very few students involved in intercollegiate sports." Femovich, on the other hand, believes Bilsky and the administration only have the students' best interests in mind -- and not only the student-athletes' best interests. "Judith Rodin has identified athletics and intramurals as being something important for her plans," Femovich said "And Steve Bilsky agrees with the President that this is an important issue. I don't think Steve Bilsky is overlooking it at all." Rockoff said that he has contacted UA chairperson Tal Golomb regarding the issue and discussed the changes with other UA members at Tuesday's UA meeting. "I don't see the benefits of the restructuring," Rockoff said. "They'll probably have to go through another restructuring process again in two or three years."