By Kaya DeAngelis
If you’re like me and you were admitted to Stonehill College in the years following the move to
Division 1, you know what a big deal it's been; it has been advertised on social media, at prospective student events, and is a characteristic of our college in which many of us take pride.
We accepted the invitation from the NEC to move up from Division 2 to Division 1 in April of 2022, officially starting at the D1 level in the 2022-2023 academic year.
While this move was an accomplishment for our college and athletes, I would argue that it has
had a negative effect on our student body as a whole.
To be a successful D1 institution, the college must invest millions of dollars into its athletic
programs. This means that there is less money to be given to other aspects of the institution, such as facilities, academic programs, arts, and dining.
Along with the switch to D1, the college also recently made a switch in dining services to Bon
Appétit.
With this switch, Stonehill believed they were turning a new page on the student dining
experience. However, with food poisoning claims from various locations, confusion surrounding
the new swipe system, lack of ability to order out, and other various complaints, it’s hard to say
whether the dining has truly improved or merely changed. But hey, they gave us our chicken
wraps back.
In addition to food complaints, there are always facility issues in the dorms. Issues that are seemingly getting worse as the years go on.
From no hot water in the showers to broken heaters, mold, window screens falling out, and appliances not working, there are simply not enough workers to deal with all the issues. Not to mention, every dorm needs updating.
The college stated that being D1 would increase Stonehill’s student experience and popularity.
While the popularity aspect is certainly true, with an increasing freshman class size each year since 2022, is the student experience really made better with D1 athletic teams?
Our win percentages have decreased significantly since going D1.
In 2021, our last year competing at the D2 level, the football team had a record of 8-2. This past year, our record was 1-10. Is the student experience truly better at the D1 level if we’re losing?
Being a D1 institution costs an incredible amount of money, money which, if reallocated, could better suit the college’s current needs. Instead, the college plans to build a new basketball and hockey rink, projected to cost upwards of $40 million.
Where do we ultimately want to make our name and legacy as a college: in academics or
athletics? Right now, it seems the focus is being placed on athletics, something that may or may not even be sustainable after the reclassification period has ended and we are truly and fully
D1. Is it shortsighted, or is it strategic? Are we focusing on the bigger picture? I would argue that unless the school can better allocate its finances and prioritize the well-being of the entire
student body, we should not continue to be a D1 institution.
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