Affected by the decision are its softball program, wrestling program, men’s swimming and diving and women’s tennis programs.
YPSILANTI — In a move to save approximately $2.4 million, Eastern Michigan is reducing its intercollegiate athletic program by four sports.
The decision to drop its softball, wrestling, women’s tennis and men’s swimming and diving programs was announced Tuesday, and the change is effective at the end of the 2018 season.
The move affects 58 male student-athletes and 25 female student-athletes, although the university said it will continue their athletic scholarships.
EMU faculty and staff have called for reductions in the athletics budget, which was subsidized by $27.3 million in 2015, according to NCAA financial disclosure forms.
On Friday, faculty and staff marched in protest of EMU’s decision to cut nearly 60 staff positions to erase a deficit between $4.5 million and $5.5 million, arguing the university did not look closely enough at its athletics budget for solutions to its shortfall.
Below are reactions to the news on social media.
