11/13/2007 3:53:06 PM
As the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
(MIAC) celebrates its 25th Anniversary of
Women’s Athletics, a series of profiles will be written about
individuals from member institutions that have made a significant
impact on women’s athletics. This profile
features College of Saint
Benedict Faculty Athletic Representative, LuAnn
Reif.
One of the most important but often least talked about
roles in college athletics is that of the Faculty Athletic
Representative, or FAR. Every NCAA institution has a faculty member
who serves to represent the best interests of the student-athletes
on their campus. FAR’s attempt to ensure that students
receive the best academic and overall experience possible. Veteran
FAR LuAnn Reif of
the College of Saint
Benedict has been serving the students of Saint
Ben’s and the MIAC for the past 23 years. During that span,
Reif has served as MIAC President, Vice-President, member of the
Executive Committee, member of the Compliance Committee, and has
served on both MIAC Executive Director Search Committees. According
to Saint Benedict Athletic Director, Carol Howe-Veenstra,
“LuAnn brings a very global perspective to the MIAC. She does
what’s right for the Conference and what’s fair for the
student-athletes and their opportunities.”
Being part of the MIAC for 23 years has given Reif a
unique perspective concerning women’s athletics. Her
relationship with athletics began with her work as a collegiate
volleyball official. From there, LuAnn was asked to represent
the College ofSaint
Benedict as the Faculty Athletic Representative.
Reif says she saw the opportunity as “a little thing that
could have an impact on women’s sports.” Little did she
know, she would end up playing an important role in numerous
changes that would take place in the MIAC over the next two
decades.
Looking back on women’s sports twenty-five years
ago, Reif remembers a time before the current Saint Benedict
facilities were in place. She recalls that the gym had linoleum
floors, there were no bleachers and spectators had to go find their
own chairs from a nearby classroom. Teams shared uniforms and
coaches drove the students to their events. At that time, the
coaches at Saint Benedict were not as experienced as the coaches
today and there just wasn’t the investment in women’s
athletics that there is today. According to Reif, that all began to
change when current athletic director Carol Howe-Veenstra came on
board. Howe-Veenstra saw the need for quality coaches and
facilities which has had a huge impact on women’s athletics
at Saint Ben’s. In summing up the evolution of women’s
athletics, Reif commented that, “Women’s athletics has
come a long way over the past twenty-five years – there
really is no comparison.”
When asked about the future of women’s athletics,
Reif spoke about the importance of “keeping the student
experience top-notch.” As with most small colleges, athletic
departments are being asked to do more, with fewer resources. As
this trend continues, Reif feels it will be important to keep the
student-athlete experience as a priority. She says that, in a best
case scenario, institutions could explore expanding into new
sports. In addition to maintaining a high quality experience for
students, Reif also feels that Title IX issues are still present
and that it is important to keep thinking about and discussing
these issues. She also believes that it is very important to keep
encouraging women to take active leadership roles in athletics
through roles as FARs,
administrators, coaches and interns.
If you ask Reif what makes Saint Benedict so special,
she is quick to discuss one of the founding values of the college
– COMMUNITY. Reif commented that, “The sense of
community in athletics is very special. You can’t help but
want to be a part of a program that has the type of values and
sense of community that is at Saint Benedict.”