In their first game of the season against Coe’s Kohawks, on Aug. 30, the Bears came up on top in a five-set thriller. However, the day following the win, they lost to Hope in five sets and fell 0-3 against Northwestern.

For many incoming college students across the country, the image of the quintessential college experience includes some element of a sports game-day culture. If you ended up at WashU, that element most likely wasn’t a key component in your college decision.

Members of Washington University’s athletic community are taking part in Division III week this week, with the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) promoting events highlighting Wash. U. student-athletes.

Washington University cross-country head coach Jeff Stiles has referred to the 2011 cross-country team as “the best team in school history.” And with the women’s team winning its first national championship ever and the men’s team finishing in third place at nationals, it’s tough to argue with that assessment. So how do they follow that up in 2012?

This letter is in response to Andrew Gottlieb’s column “Why Washington University should consider starting a Division I basketball program” appearing in Monday’s edition of Student Life. Gottlieb’s article, though apparently well intentioned, was unfortunately fraught with many inaccuracies and misconceptions regarding the state of the athletic programs at Wash. U.