This entry is dedicated to my good friend C. I have known her for many years and I know she puts 100 % of herself into everything she does. This especially true of the sport she plays. She walked onto a team and her pure athleticism and drive gained her a spot. However she was chosen to play a position that was entirely new to her. C is not one to back down from a challenge and took it on whole-heartedly, becoming very skilled in the position for which she was chosen. She joined camps and got training to be the best she could be over the summer. I wish I could say her hard work paid off on the field, but she was barely given a chance. However, what little time she got she used to the best of her ability. She didn't let that stop her and kept busting her butt at practice. Her times dropped in fitness tests and really came out on top during training sessions. She possesses great strength of character, as wel,l and knew to not bring any frustration to games.
Unfortunately C was not blessed with a coach of the same strength. Politics always influenced the decisions made and C never got the encouragement that she truly deserved. C bit her tongue the entire season. At her end of season meeting with her coach, C finally told the coach her feelings about the season and how she felt it could be improved. C's frustrations stemmed not only from her lack of guidance, but from the mismanagement of the team. To this most of the team would agree.
Because C spoke her mind she was cut from a fall sport in January for no reason other than for standing true to her beliefs and sticking to her guns. C gave that sport her all and everyone could see that - even the people of the Landmark Conference which awarded her Honor Roll.
I felt that this was important to share with you and the Scranton Community because C is what The University of Scranton is all about: Passion. She stood up for herself and what she believed in while others cowered in fear of defying their coach. And while she suffered because of it, she will be stronger. I am not alone in feeling infuriated because of what happened, but not much will be done. This is the real world and it is not fair.

Rebecca Bartley