Protests of the demise of Kansas University men's swimming and tennis teams landed on the porch of Chancellor Robert Hemenway's home Saturday.
And a former Kansas University athletics director joined in, calling the decision to cut the programs "inexcusable."
Former KU Athletics director Monte Johnson talked to supporters Saturday morning near Robinson Center. Johnson told a gathering of protesters that cutting the men's swimming, diving and tennis programs at KU was "inexcusable."
At the Saturday morning protest, former athletics director Monte Johnson gave an impromptu speech against the decision. He was among a group of about 75 student-athletes and others concerned about the cuts. The protesters gathered at Robinson Center and marched to Hemenway's home to express their concerns to the university's top official.
Johnson said in an interview after the protest that the cuts announced a week ago were a result of laziness on behalf of the athletic department.
"I can say from experience that it would not have happened if I was there," said Johnson, who served as athletics director from 1982 to 1987 and is himself a KU basketball letterman. "All you have to do is work harder and it wouldn't have happened."
Program alumni, many of them from affluent families, would have supported the programs financially had they been notified of the need before it was too late, Johnson said. Any effort to rally support would have saved the programs, he said.
Additionally, cutting the programs, whose funding cost the athletic department less than 5 percent of its budget, was not enough to make a significant difference, Johnson said.
Hemenway, in a prepared statement released after meeting with the protesters, said he appreciated having an opportunity to listen to their concerns.
"This has been a difficult time, especially for the student-athletes and coaches on the discontinued teams," he said. "I don't think anyone could listen to them and not be impressed by their dedication."
But he added that KU athletics like other programs across the nation had to accept that it could no longer support a base of 20 varsity teams or keep escalating costs under control. "The decision that has been made will allow athletics to focus resources and give the teams KU does field the full support they need to be competitive," Hemenway said.
But Johnson said he was worried that the cuts could more deeply wound KU athletics.
"If you have a really sick body and you start cutting off the arms and legs, eventually the body dies," he said.
Johnson said his sympathy goes out to athletes and alumni who gave so much to KU swimming, diving and tennis.
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