"The program's origins go beyond Amherst College," said Athletic Director Peter Gooding. "Throughout the country there is a sense that athletic departments have become more and more separate from colleges." Gooding remarked that the separation does not exist only at Div. I schools, where athletes have totally separate academic and athletic lives. Gooding said that he believes that such a separation between athletics and academics exists at the College as well.
Gooding traces the beginning of the separation at the College to the way in which the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) handles athletic programs. "One of the most significant changes at Amherst was when Amherst became a part of a [playing] conference," said Gooding.
The change made athletics at the College more competitive, because NESCAC schools started to compete in NESCAC postseason playoffs and NCAA Championships. "The decision ... was made with almost no input from students and faculty," Gooding added. "When you have a number of these things happen, at a certain point you realize you've become separate."
The office of the dean of faculty instituted the liaison program at the College. "Over the years, many faculty members, coaches and students have found it mutually enriching to have faculty members involved in the athletic side of the Amherst educational experience," said Dean of the Faculty Gregory Call. "Peter Gooding and I would like to strengthen this connection and help it grow."
Call and Gooding have purposefully left the exact role of faculty liaisons vague. "We can run the gamut," Gooding said. "The faculty can be very involved by knowing everyone on the team and giving academic advice, or they can have very little direct contact with the team but be available if needed."
Coaches at the College support the faculty liaison program as well. "Any time we can welcome someone not from athletics, but someone who appreciates athletics, into the fold is a good opportunity," said Lynne Cinella, the co-head coach of the women's basketball team.
Carol Knerr, the field hockey coach, believes that the liaisons will be beneficial for student athletes. "The faculty liaison program is like a bridge to help connect the academic world and the athletic world at Amherst," she said.
Coaches and athletes initiated the program by choosing a member of the academic faculty to be their liaison. Gooding and Call both indicated that many teams chose liaisons based upon the faculty member's interest in the particular sport. Other teams chose their liaisons because of pre-existing relationships athletes or coaches had with the professor.
The women's basketball program chose Professor of Biology Pat Williamson to be its liaison. "We were fortunate that we had a prior relationship with Pat Williamson," said Bill McBride, one of the team's coaches. "[Before the faculty liaison program started] Pat would show up on a consistent basis and support the team. In addition, Pat cares about the well-being of all student athletes."
Kate Herlihy '05, co-captain of the women's basketball team, is very enthusiastic about the program. "We think the faculty liaison program will be a positive experience for both our team and our liaison, Professor Williamson," Herlihy said. "It is helpful to have a specific faculty member to approach if issues arise, and it is great to have their support both on and off the court."
Professor of Jurisprudence and Political Science Austin Sarat, the liaison to the field hockey team, showed his support by attending some field hockey practices and games during the fall season. "I really enjoyed my role with the field hockey team. ... It is a terrific sport," he said. "When I started, I didn't know anything about the game. I'm flattered that I was asked to be a faculty liaison and would be pleased to do it again next year."
Chris Paradis, the women's lacrosse coach, is glad that students will have additional contact with their professors. "The faculty liaison program is another avenue for students to have contact with professors in relation to their lives as student athletes at Amherst," she said.
Gooding believes that many of the faculty are interested in aspects of students' lives outside the classroom. "The faculty are very independent, and do not like to be told what to do," said Gooding. "But contrary to popular belief, many faculty members take a strong interest in the lives of students, which often means the students' involvement in outside activities such as sports."
Professor of Computer Science Scott Kaplan is the liaison to the men's squash team. "I supported the program because it allows me, as a faculty member, to ... get to know a larger number of students, specifically those that do not take my or any other computer science courses, and ... get to know some students on a very different basis," he said. "It also helps me to become more ... familiar with our athletic programs, to which a number of our students dedicate significant time and energy."
Call said that it may be too early to determine the success of the program, but it is off to a great start. "The response of the faculty members nominated to serve as liaisons was enthusiastic and unanimously positive," he said. "All 18 of the faculty nominees said 'yes,' and we've already added another faculty colleague to the program who expressed a desire to participate."
The teams and liaisons seem to have embraced the program. Due to the positive response, it will be continued.
"My office is supporting the program with modest funds for social gatherings, and I intend to maintain this funding for the foreseeable future," said Call. "Though we haven't specified the length of a liaison's term, I hope that faculty liaisons will rotate periodically and that over time many colleagues will use this opportunity to strengthen their connections with their students outside of the classroom."