Since 1998, the University of Rhode Island Rowing Club has been for men only. This was because of the Title IX requirements that elevated Women’s Rowing to a varsity level, turning the club into a men’s club. URI Crew alumni have been urging the team to become COED again, a goal which is hoped to be achieved by fall 2016. Captain Cody McMillian said, “We lost the female component back in 1998 as a result of title IX and we want to bring it back… because we think it’s a great way to broaden the team.”

          Around the world most rowing programs are coed, with only a few US programs gender segregated because of Title IX. End of the year regattas are usually the most prestigious races, and are won based on total points earned. Because it’s a men’s only team, URI is lucky to place top five overall in these events. Bringing back the coed club team will allow them to earn the most points possible, hopefully elevating them to a good scoring position.

            By making the team coed again, the URI Crew Club would be able to reengage the 300 or so female alumni who, for the most part, have lost interest since 1998. Since the club owns four eight person boats, six fours, and many other smaller shells, the only thing they need to make the team coed is the women. This fall they will ramp up their recruitment to include a lightweight women’s team.

            Why lightweight women only? Due to the extremely competitive nature of the existing Varsity Women’s team, recruiting heavyweights could interfere with their recruitment, as heavyweight rowers tend to be faster and therefore more desirable.

            The men’s team, however, can benefit specifically from a lightweight women’s club team. This is because the speed of a women’s eight person boat is so similar to a men’s four person are so similar that the boats could use each other as effective training partners in racing and (cumulative) ergometer trials.

            One of the best parts about being a club team is that anyone can join, given that they can pay their dues. It doesn’t matter what sport someone came from, all are welcome on the crew team. The head coach, Robert Gillette, hopes to recruit around thirty girls in the fall to create a foundation for women’s club rowing.