In 2002 the Mississippi University for Women in Columbus discontinued intercollegiate athletics after a devastating tornado destroyed a primary sports venue on campus. At that time, the university was a member of the Gulf South Conference and offered sports that included basketball, softball, volleyball, track and field, gymnastics, swimming, tennis, and badminton.
Now the university is making plans to resume intercollegiate athletics. A search for a director of athletics has begun and Rita Hinton, professor emerita of philosophy, will serve as the interim faculty athletics representative.
Jim Borsig, president of the Mississippi University for Women, stated that “this is not an easy undertaking, and I want to be perfectly clear that we have thoughtfully entered the process understanding the challenges. Athletics will enhance the student life experience and bring increased vitality to campus. We believe athletics will have long-term benefits for our students and for our university.”
Despite its name, the Mississippi University for Women has been coeducational since 1982. But women still make up 81 percent of the undergraduate student body. The effort to return to intercollegiate athletics will include teams for both men and women.