CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) announced its plans for the spring 2021 semester. The plans will have a direct impact on the MIT Athletics winter seasons for varsity sports, as well as the other programming areas within the Department of Athletics, Physical Education and Recreation (DAPER).
MIT, which previously canceled all fall varsity sports competition – including men’s water polo – for the entirety of the 2020-21 academic year, will also not compete in winter varsity sports competition. This announcement impacts men’s and women’s basketball, fencing, rifle, squash, men’s and women’s swimming and diving, and men’s and women’s indoor track and field. Previously, MIT informed the Northeast Water Polo Conference (NWPC) of their intent to not compete during the 2020-21 academic year.
“Due to the rising number of Covid-19 cases across the region and the country, we have made the difficult decision to cancel athletics competition for the upcoming winter sports season,” said Dr. G. Anthony Grant, MIT Director of Athletics and DAPER department head. “As with every decision that we make here at MIT, we are doing so with the health and safety of our student-athletes and community at the forefront of our minds.”
“We know this announcement will be disappointing to our winter sports student-athletes, but this decision is in the best interest of protecting their well-being and that of the whole MIT campus,” said Suzy M. Nelson, Vice President and Dean for Student Life. “We will continue working together to keep Covid at bay in our community.”
A decision about MIT spring sports – including the institution’s women’s collegiate club water polo team – will be made at a later date although no competition will occur during the winter season. While that decision is pending, student-athletes should be aware that MIT would not engage in competition under current Covid conditions. “We will continue to follow guidance from federal, state, and local public health authorities, along with MIT Medical, when making a determination on the spring sports seasons,” Grant added.
Information courtesy Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
