University of Virginia Library

For $12,000 Budget

Oarsmen Need Funds

The University of Virginia
Rowing Association has struggled
to the top flight category in the
Dad Vail Rowing Association, the
league in which smaller crew
programs compete. The crew is now
attempting to raise its stature to
compete with crews of world
acclaim such as Harvard, Yale, and
Pennsylvania. After only one
complete season the oarsmen plan
to enter at least a four man crew in
the I.R.A., the national collegiate
championships, in June.

Hard Work, Devotion

The meteoric rise of the crew
can be attributed to many factors:
the hard work and devotion of the
oarsmen, Tim Kerr's fine coaching,
community support through the
Board of Stewards, and aid from
the Student Council. However, in
addition to the above factors,
future success will depend on one
more element-money.

Tough Competition

Yale's crew will be visiting
Charlottesville again this spring.
They will bring three or four crews,
four shells, sound systems, and the
general splendor that arises from a
$100,000 budget. Virginia will
compete with Yale in an exhibition
this March— not watch but
compete.

Virginia is operating on a
shoe-string budget of $12,000. The
crew can boast a flotilla of six
eights, two fours, and a single scull
of which only two eights are new.
Yale will leave over 20 shells in
their hometown, New Haven,
Conn., most of these are either new
or in perfect condition. In short,
the Virginia oarsmen will be
competing way above their heads
financially.

The Virginia crew has
enthusiasm. But unfortunately
enthusiasm does not buy shells,
expand dock and boathouse
facilities, and pay for operating
expenses. Each oarsman pays $50
dues to defray some of the
expenses, and the Student Council
gave $2800. That leaves some
$8,000 to be collected through
other means.

Raffle To Be Held

This Spring the crew is again
staging a raffle to gain some of the
needed funds. The oarsmen hope to
entice support by offering winners
a Yamaha motorcycle, a $100
Eljo's suit, and other prizes from
Corner Shops: but the crew hopes
students will buy tickets out of
support for the efforts of the
oarsmen as the primary motive.

The goal of the raffle is $3,000.
The $5,000 balance must be
collected through donations. The
crew asks alumni, faculty,
administration, and parents alike to
do their part. Donations are
tax-deductible and should be made
out to the University of Virginia
Alumni Association, and specified
as given for crew. They should be
mailed to the University of Virginia
Rowing Association, 414 Park St.,
Charlottesville.