Title IX was introduced to college sports teams back in 1972, which gave women the equal opportunity to compete in athletics. Since then, college sports have flourished dramatically over the past three decades.

However, universities are currently feeling the financial pinch from the recession. Looking for ways to cut their budget, college presidents have been drastically reducing the number of sports teams. This trend is angering students, alumni, and parents. Prospective students, who may have counted on going to college on a sports scholarship, now have to rethink their plans. However, one question remains—just how important are college sports?

Some people argue that university athletics only benefit the select few who are gifted enough to play. On the flip side, college sports can benefit all students who enjoy the feeling of community and camaraderie at a pep rally or sports game. Sports have traditionally united students across all disciplines, as well as teachers and the general community. Will cutting down teams affect students’ college experience?

Successful college teams rake in huge profits for their schools through sponsorship and television revenue. However, maintaining a good team is a costly business. Millions of dollars are spent to finance coaches, team trips, equipment, and facility fees—money which COULD be going towards staving off students’ increasing tuition fees and improving the quality of education.

While a few athletic departments are putting some of their profit back into their schools, many college sports teams simply don’t generate millions of dollars in revenue. This means that smaller teams eat away at a college’s budget and create huge deficits. By cutting down the number of sports teams on campus, colleges are saving millions of dollars a year.

So, while sport teams offer students a great college experience, the question needs to be asked: at what cost? The decline in the economy has forced universities to give up some of its beloved sporting events, but perhaps this is just the opportunity that colleges need to evaluate their priorities and determine what really is important to students.