As I write to you today, I am sending my best wishes for health and strength as we continue to battle the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
This has been a difficult time for so many in our community, and I want to extend my deepest gratitude to all of the physicians, nurses and healthcare workers at Stony Brook Hospital and throughout New York. These remarkable individuals are being asked to work under extremely stressful circumstances as the need for hospital beds and ventilators becomes paramount.
 
The top priority of our campus remains the functioning of our hospital. We are prepared to do our part by preparing Island Federal Arena, Pritchard Gym and our outdoor facilities should they be needed.
 
My days are spent on conference calls and video meetings. I am in constant communication with University leadership and am proud of the coordinated effort that is taking place. The resumption of the spring semester is scheduled for Monday as all of our students move to distance learning. In Athletics, our academic advisors are prepared to assist all of our student-athletes and ensure their success in their new virtual classrooms.
 
Our student-athletes are among the most resilient people I know, and they have been incredible over the past few weeks. When we do return to normal – whatever that looks like – we will be ready to carry the torch forward. The economic reality won't truly be known for a few weeks, but it will hurt. Refunds of the undergraduate Athletics fee and a slash to the NCAA annual distribution (due to the cancellation of March Madness) were obviously unforeseen. Like everything else, we will find a way forward.
 
The final note that I will share is related to the spring sport student-athletes. On Monday, the NCAA Division I Council (of which I am a member) will officially vote to provide blanket waivers that will provide an additional season of eligibility. This is the right thing to do – although a potentially costly proposition. If all of our seniors who were on scholarship in 2019-20 decide to come back, it would cost close to $700,000.
 
Not every senior will come back but I believe that they all deserve the opportunity to finish what they started. Their year was taken away and it is up to all of us on the Division I Council to give it back.
 
My goal for our student-athletes, coaches and staff is to provide as much certainty as possible even as we look ahead to an uncertain future. We must plan for every scenario and will be ready to pivot in any direction as dictated by this pandemic. Once we emerge on the other side of this, I do firmly believe that the role of intercollegiate sports in our society will be more important than ever. We'll be more than ready to do our part to deliver some semblance of normalcy when the statistics that we speak of are yards gained or goals scored rather than cases of COVID-19.
 
No matter what the future holds, we will be here. Until the day comes when we are all back together cheering on our Seawolves, I wish you happiness, health and peace.
 
More to come… Keep believing!



Shawn