Let's Talk About CoSIDA

Let’s talk about CoSIDA.

Is the 400-pound gorilla in the room our professional organization?

I know what I have done for CoSIDA. I initially paid my dues in order to nominate athletes. Because of the ingrained SID character flaw, I ended up taking on additional duties as if there isn’t enough to do around here. I serve on what I believe to be one of the more critical and difficult committees. I attended most of the convention in Philly. I uphold the Code of Ethics and read my magazine.

What has CoSIDA done for me?

I’ve filled out the survey. The results were about what I expected. My world went unchanged.

Why doesn’t our professional organization advocate on our behalf?

Hell, we dedicate our lives to advocating for others. A group of professional advocators should know how to do it on their own behalf.

Why are we DIII SID types relegated to an anonymous blog to have our voices heard?

I suppose the culture of the old guard is partly responsible. I hate listening to the old SIDs who brag about how much they have to do as if being overworked is an honor instead of unfortunate….

“My lacrosse and softball teams play at home today, and both of my basketball teams are in the NCAA Tournament tonight including one at home. I have five swimmers, three wrestlers, and two track athletes getting ready for nationals. My baseball and women’s lacrosse team are on the road and my only student worker was sneezed on by a sick chicken last week and he called in this morning saying something about having a bloody cough. I got here at 3:40 this morning, and I should be out by 3:40 tomorrow morning,” says Old SID A proud of how much he can handle.

“Yeah, I’ve got all of that, plus four gymnasts and two ice hockey teams still playng. Plus, my #1 singles tennis player got arrested for selling crack to an undercover police officer in front of a TV camera that was here doing a story on our drug free campus,” replies Old SID B in a stupid game of one-upsmanship that I have heard far too often.

To have that conversation in any manner than one person COMPLAINING to another should be criminal. What psychological pathology makes someone think that if they spend a minute not working, they are a better SID?

Its kind of like that old SNL skit where Billy Crystal is talking about drilling a hole in his toe and filling it with rubbing alcohol. I hate when that happens. But these guys are f#*king serious.

I am taking things the other way.

My IM away messages now say things like:

• Playing golf.
• Spending time with my wife.
• Letting my dog sniff my hand to see if he still remembers me.

I just don’t get to use any of them nearly enough. Let’s brag about the fact that we are working diligently to find ways to make having this job and having a personal life are not mutually exclusive concepts.

Why is their no CoSIDA Committee on best labor practices? Why aren’t guidelines being drawn as a baseline for a sport to SID ratio? For a sport to pay ratio? For competition blackout days Why isn’t this non-existent committee preparing a campaign to educate AD’s, HR personnel, and others up the food chain about the role we play? About limiting the scope of tasks in the famous clause: Other/Various tasks as assigned by the AD (which is where about 90 percent of my actual work in my three-page job description lies).

So here is what I am doing. After I am done with my committee work for this year, I am done being on any CoSIDA committees. I will remain done until CoSIDA begins to advocate on our behalf. Starting a committee dedicated to our rights as humans and workers would be a nice step. That’s a committee I want in on, and will gladly sign-up for.

I know there are other factors at play as to why this isn’t a priority, and I know some of my fellow bloggers have been at this longer than me. Help me out, what are they?

No one besides us is going to stick up for us? I thank all of my fellow posters for giving us a voice.