Jeremy Juhasz

The Office for Civil Rights continued its investigation into the University’s alleged unfair treatment of female athletes and their teams April 28 and 29, but also interfered with the student newspaper’s ability to report the issue.

During its "fact-gathering" process, investigators held two open-door meetings for all AU students in the Kenyon-Allen Room in Powell Campus Center. Women were questioned on April 28 between the hours of 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. and men were welcome to attend April 29 during the same hours.

Following the April 20 article in the Fiat Lux titled, “Civil Rights office to Investigate AU,” the Fiat Lux obtained more details via its FOIA request, which outlines each alleged violation more specifically.

Former Alfred University student and football player Julio Fuentes has been recovering from an injury that every athlete prays won’t happen. In September of 2006, Fuentes was on Alfred’s kick-return unit. Fulfilling his role on a blocking assignment to open the second-half of play, Fuentes collided with a player from Thiel College. Fuentes went down and didn’t get up. He was injured and before long, the nightmarish reality of its seriousness brought Merrill Field to silence.

The Alfred softball program has one thing on its mind this season.

“We all agreed upon it. We all expect it,” said head coach Gino Olivieri. “We’re tired of finishing second, two years in a row, at the ECACs last year at Empire 8s.”

Last year, the team won 24 games, going 8-4 in conference play. Olivieri was named conference Coach of the Year and a school-record eight players received all-star recognition.

But the team lost in the ECAC title game to Union. It’s a game they hope to return to in 2009.

The University is facing a federal investigation from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights after a group of anonymous parents accused the University of violating Title IX law.

Title IX, an amendment to a 1972 piece of legislation, states that “no person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”

Just prior to the halfway mark of AU’s 2009 softball season, two Saxons, Jessica Figallo and Jesika LeBarron, as of March 29 sit atop the NCAA Division III national spotlight.

According to NCAA.org, Figallo and LeBarron are one and two, respectively, in batting average. There are 500 softball players in division three listed on the site and there isn’t another Empire 8 player on the list until Alfred’s Samantha Rollins appears in a six-way tie for 67th.

One of Alfred’s unique sports offerings is Alpine Skiing, and the ladies ski team wrapped up another year on the slopes, culminating into a 13th place finish at the United States Collegiate Ski Association national championships at Winter Park, CO.

The team started the season fast, opening the year by winning its first two contests at Labrador Mountain and its own Invitational at Swain. The women finished second at Bristol Mountain and Greek Peak before finishing fourth at Toggenburg.

But, all of the attention was centered in Colorado come March 4.

Ethan Zohn, co-founder of the not-for-profit organization Grassroots Soccer and former "Survivor: Africa" winner, teamed up with friend and AU men’s soccer coach Scott Miller March 21 in McLane Center to raise money for the organization's efforts in Africa.

Taking place the day after speaking at Holmes Auditorium, the fund-raiser was a three-on-three shoeless soccer tournament called "Lose the Shoes—Barefoot 3 v 3 Soccer Tournament to Kick AIDS in Africa." Played purposely barefooted, the tournament symbolizes African youths' experience with soccer.

She will be the first one to tell you that eclipsing 1,000 points, grabbing more than 500 rebounds and leading the Lady Saxons all-time in steals isn’t worth noting.

“I don’t think it’s that big of a deal,” senior forward/guard Melanie Jackson said. But the lone senior captain of the AU women’s basketball team acknowledged that “it (basketball) defines who I am.”

Beth Kushner, a former resident of Eden N.Y., died when Continental Connection Flight 3407 crashed into a Clarence Center home on Feb. 12, approximately five miles from its intended landing strip at Buffalo Niagara International Airport. She was 19. Like Beth, I too hail from Eden N.Y. Beth’s brother, Joe, was my teammate on the high school basketball team. It’s in this capacity that connects me to the tragedy that’s been dubbed “The Buffalo Crash.”