Dangers Of Intramural Crew Should Still Be Examined

I was happy to read that the athletic department has reinstated the intramural “B” boats (“Possible IM Crew Cutback Resolved,” News, Feb. 15). I think that rowing is an amazing sport, and the more people who get to try it the better. However, there are great safety concerns, and perhaps more time should be spent dealing with these before the program is once again allowed to run amok.

Having spent four years on the river with the Harvard teams, we saw firsthand the dangers caused by complete novices rowing with a completely novice coxswain. Boats were spread all over the river with little concept of direction or river etiquette. They are dangerous to themselves and any unsuspecting sculler venturing upriver. It is only a matter of time before someone is injured if the program continues as is.

I currently run the Learn to Row programs at a club in Vancouver, B.C., and have been amazed at the attention paid to safety here. We never send an inexperienced boat out without at least one coach in the coxswain’s seat and a launch to follow it. I know that solution is hardly feasible at Harvard, short of hiring many varsity rowers to help out, but perhaps the intramural folks need to consider a program that will give coxswains on-water experience before putting them in charge of a novice crew.

It is terrible that every year seems to impose more and more restrictions, but with more people rowing than ever before, we need to do something before putting these unguided missiles on the water.

ALEX BINKLEY ’04

Vancouver, B.C.

February 15, 2005