The Washington times., 1907-06-11
c. v. j. ATHLETICS
ARE THREATENED
BY Loss OF PARK
Financial Status Shaky if
Football Team Is Not
Successful.

President Needham's announcement
made at the commencement exercises
June that no building site has yet
been selected for the Greater George
Washington University has caused con-
siderable commOtion and agitation
among the followers of athletics at the
Hatchetite Institution.
In connection with his announcement,
DR.. Needham explained the policy of
the university authorities, and the pres
ent financial condition of the institution.
both Of which would seem to prohibit
any definite action being taken on the
matter in the near future. In addition
20 this Van Ness Park. for three years
the location of the engineering school
and the athletic grounds Of the univer-
sity, was bought last spring by the Blu
reau of American Republics for the
avowed purpose of using IL as the site
OF it's new building, operations upon
which, II is generally UNDERSTOOD, VIII
begin in the near future. This being
the case the park will 10 longer be
available for an atheletc field for the
Hatchetites, and from this IL can easily
be seen that President Needham's as
nouncement was fraught with consider
able moment 20 the athletic interests of
the school.
Football will be the first 10 suffer
from the lack Of a field, inasmuch as
the gridirOn artists start work early in
September in preparation for the actual
playing season, and something will have
TO be done before that time to insure
a successful season. Manager Ball, who
will be at the head of the football de-
hn q
already practically completed a preten-
tious schedule. on which Swarthmore.
Cornell. V. p. l., and several other large
schools figure for Out-of-town games,
while Lehigh. Western Maryland, Cath
Ollie University, and others are booked
for local games. Not only must the
management have a place to play the
home game, but what is far more i'm
portant a place for daily practice in
preparation for all the contests. and
such a place is yet TO be obtained.
In previous years the park at the
corner of Seventh and u streets, the
home grounds OF the Washington Amer
lean League baseball club. has been
utilized for various important contests,
and the management might be able TO
secure this for the local games, but IL
could not be used as practice grounds
until late In the season. on account OF
the fact that the baseball schedule will
not be completed until the pigskin game
Is well under way. This leaves matters
in a very unsettled state, TO say the
least.
And, as is the case in all universities.
the other athletic teams are dependent
upon the football team for financial
support. an unsuccessful gridiron sea-
son thus affecting also track, baseball.
and basketball. There seems consider
able cause for perturbation IN the
minds of the athletic enthusiasts under
the present status therefore, and IL is
little wonder that the managers Of the
various teams are on the anxious bench.
President Needham in a speech 10 the
student body in the winter. during the
heat OF the building fund campaign,
aroused considerable applause by stat
ing that wherever the new site was
there would be an athletic field pro-
vided for first Of all, but from later
developments some provision will GER
tainly have to be made before the site
lis selected.