???

Apparently the readership of this blog has gotten a little out of hand, and ive been told to reign it in.  While I'm not entirely sure what this means, basically I think a number of complete strangers have been reading this (Im not making this up, I swear. my mind is blown), and getting offended at posts, or using it to spy on CUBC.  I think I have some explaining to do.

The purpose of this blog is to keep my family and friends in the loop while I am over here studying.  I am generally too lazy/busy to write individual emails to everyone who I know and love, so I am mass packaging that stuff. I realize that I am posting this in a public forum, and it is open to anybody who wants to read it.  At the same time, for those of you who I dont know personally, please acknowledge the intended audience for my writings, and respect me by not reading this blog.  If problems continue, I will have to make this blog private, which would be a pain in the ass, or discontinue it  (yes mom I am a big boy now and I use the word ass).

That said, I think it is necessary to explain an earlier post about the Cambridge Women's team and about Title 9.  In the States, we have something called Title 9, which calls for equal spending for both men's and women's sports in any university. In all universities, the moneymaking sports (football and basketball) eat up an extraordinary amount of funding.  In order to balance this expense, athletic departments spend loads of money on sports like womens rowing, often on excessive luxuries.  For example, a girl from my high school had never rowed or erged a stroke in her life, but was given a full athletic scholarship to Washington based on the fact that she was tall and athletic.  At UCLA, where attended university for my Freshman year, the womens program is well funded and supported with facilities, trainers, tutors, training-table (free meals), and status.  The men's team gets none of this, and have to pay substantial annual dues.  Fortunately the funding discrepancy at Stanford is not as large, but is still noticeable with kit, training trips, scholarships, and equipment.  Naturally, male university rowers in the States develop some bitterness towards better funded and supported female teams, and towards Title 9 itself.  

Coming to Cambridge, and seeing the treatment and social status of the women's and lightweight teams, completely explains the other side of Title 9.  At Stanford, female athletes are accorded equal if not superior respect when compared to the male athletes (this is partly because of the higher propensity of women's teams at Stanford to win NCAA championships).  Women's athletics, while not having as high a profile as Men's basketball or football, have the respect and value in the University community.  I was shocked to find how differently women's sports are considered here.  There simply isnt a value placed on Women's sports by the Cambridge community.

I hope I have justified/explained this blog.  If you have any questions or comments, please post them on this blog.  It kinda freaks me out that people read this blog without leaving any trace, plus it makes me feel like somebody actually reads this blog besides my parents.