The budget crisis at the University of Louisville has claimed yet another victim.
Starting this semester, any non-Health and Sport Sciences major enrolled in HSS activity classes will be charged a $75 fee, which will be added to their tuition bill. According to Dr. David Britt, chair of the HSS department, the new fee has been implemented to produce more revenue in light of budget cuts.
Although he spent most of his time as the assistant coach for the Romanian swim team, Arthur Albiero, University of Louisville swimming and diving coach, simply couldn't pass up the numerous tourist destinations that China had to offer.
"Certainly, if you like athletics I don't know if there's a better place to be than the Olympics," Albiero said. "But the culture of China is something I didn't know a lot about going into it, but I certainly came back much more intrigued. Everything I learned is very different than what we're used to."
As child-care gets harder to find and even more difficult to afford, some have found hope in the new child care facility coming near the University of Louisville's Belknap campus – like junior biology major Alex Rodriguez, who was fortunate enough to secure a spot for his two year old daughter.
James Isaac keeps in mind the words of the late George Carlin when he is on the stage: "The role of the comedian is to figure out where the line is drawn and cross it deliberately."
Though he has declared this brash approach to comedy his unofficial motto, he knows all too well that the attitude can have its pitfalls.
"It's sometimes weird to have my mom in the audience when I'm making sex jokes," the senior theater arts major readily admits.
University of Louisville swimmer and Hungarian native Adam Madarassy had no idea what to expect while waiting for his nation of Hungary to walk out into the Olympic Stadium for the opening ceremonies. He stepped into the hallway leading to the stadium and it hit him: he was participating in the Olympics.?
"I didn't really understand how it would be until I got there," Madarassy said. "But when I was in that hallway and I could see and hear all of the people, it was an unbelievable feeling."?
For Rachel Noble, budget cuts at the University of Louisville represent more than just dollars in the minus column. They represent a new burden for the next generation of U of L students to shoulder.
"Incoming students are very concerned about the budget situation," said Noble, a junior communication major, who added that her experience with the student orientation staff at this year's freshman orientation allowed her to better understand the needs of the incoming students. "At this point, they are going to be at the university the longest and they are already concerned with things like ‘how am I going to work and go to school and get things paid for?'"
Over the summer, the University of Louisville unveiled new sustainability initiatives meant to make the campus more environmentally friendly. According to President James Ramsey, it is up to higher education to take a leadership role and to continue to "raise the bar on what it means to be environmentally friendly."?
The Olympics are the epitome of athletics; the one event that brings together the best athletes and coaches from more than 200 countries to compete not just for individual or team honors, but for national pride as well.
Pam Bustin, University of Louisville's field hockey head coach, is one of the few who knows what it feels like to be involved in the Olympics as both an athlete and a coach.
Bustin, who was one of the women's field hockey assistant coaches for Team USA at the Olympics this past summer and has been since 2005, also played for the national team in the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Ga.
Before arriving at the University of Louisville, junior swimmer Andrei Radzionau exchanged e-mails on a fairly regular basis with swim and dive team head coach Arthur Albiero. One of those e-mails in particular, Radzionau said, is still fresh in his mind.
"It was my dream," Radzionau said. "Before I came here, Coach Albiero wrote me an e-mail and said ‘We will make [the] Olympic team with you.'"
Radzionau was not a stranger to large stages, taking part in the 2007 World University games and the 2005 World Cup Championships. Even with this extensive international experience, it was but a far cry from Olympic standing.
For an athlete, the first trip to the Olympics is an unforgettable experience. For University of Louisville swimmer Vali Preda, his first experience could end up being his only one.
Though Preda came to the United States, and to U of L,?to train and become a better swimmer, Preda returned home this past summer to?represent his home country of Romania in the 2008 Summer Olympics in?Beijing. ?
