Most of the student body might wonder whether Iowa State’s hockey team is a club or varsity sport.

According to Holly Fuller, hockey promotions intern, “If you surveyed the campus, I don’t think half of them would be able to answer that question correctly.”

Currently the ice hockey team at ISU is a club sport.

Student confusion over this fact may be due to the incredible success and popularity the hockey team has received over the years. Hockey enjoys a tremendous following of students, faculty, alums and Ames residents.

Coach Murdoch said feels the rise in popularity of hockey is due to their frequent winning record and the fast-paced excitement of the games.

The difference between club and varsity sports is a club sport is not sponsored by the university. This means they can’t compete with other Division I teams and do not receive funding from the university.

However, the team is trying to become a varsity sport. Coach Murdoch has been the hockey coach at ISU since 1967 and has been taking steps to obtain varsity status for the sport since 1969.

He has made a formal presentation to the GSB three times and is preparing for a fourth.

Senior goalie Kyle Geiger feels that it’s time for the program to move on.

“We are willing to play and win at the level we’re at right now, but we’d like to take it to the next level,” Geiger said.

Coach Murdoch currently has been improving the existing program to prepare it for competition at varsity level.

Murdoch has gained the support of students, businesses and the community while building the hockey program by encouraging players to get involved with the community through volunteer work, in-line skating demos and teaching clinics.

Another important project is fund raising.

Currently the team supports itself through ticket sales, business sponsorship and alumni support.

The team is operating on a budget of between $150,000 to $200,000. Approximately $100,000 is generated through ticket sales alone.

Another $50,000 comes from community businesses, advertising in the programs and on boards at the ice rink. The remainder is given by over 11,000 alumni, Fuller said.

Murdoch said the advantages of competing at a Division I level would be the opportunity to compete in the Western College Hockey Association, which is more attractive to recruits, offering decreased travel, easier scheduling, and legitimate recognition for the players.

“Hockey not only brings in money for the school and hockey program, it also brings in talent from around the country,” said Tony Finley, a freshman center from Portland, Ore.

“It lets people see what hockey is like. Everyone would win if we got a Division I team.”

Matt Binder, a Cyclone hockey fan, said he feels the program should receive varsity status.

“It’s a good program. They draw a lot of people and are real competitive. I don’t see why they couldn’t compete at a Division I level,” he said.

With so much support for the change, some people might wonder why the club hasn’t become a varsity sport yet.

While Coach Murdoch feels the biggest obstacle is the money issue, ISU associate athletic director Elaine Hieber feels it is compliance with Title 9 that is the problem.

According to Hieber the school would be in violation of Title 9 if it added another men’s sport.

Title 9 states that the proportion of women athletes to men athletes should be the same as the proportion of undergraduate women enrolled at the university to men enrolled at the university.

This also applies to the amount of money spent on mens’ and womens’ athletics, Hieber said.

A recent Title 9 review of ISU athletics found room for improvement in nine different areas.

“To add a men’s sport would take us five steps back when we are so close to compliance.

To provide additional opportunities for men when we still aren’t providing equal opportunities for women would be a disservice to the university,” Hieber said. “It would be like giving your son a second serving of food before you gave your daughter anything to eat.”

When asked how he would respond to a presentation by the hockey team to the athletic council, ISU athletic director Gene Smith was reluctant to take a side before hearing from the hockey team.

“A difficult challenge we face is continually providing the service (for existing athletic programs) we have been providing,” Smith said.

However, Smith would be open to listen to whatever the team has to say.

“I’m all ears,” said Smith. “They are having an outstanding experience as a club program.”