State budget cuts have played a major role in many community college athletic programs being eliminated. Within the last year, Skyline’s athletic department felt the effects of these cuts in a variety of ways. For starters, Skyline was forced to eliminate its cross-country program, which takes place in the fall. The school cut its storied track and field program eight years ago and since then cross-country participation has been down. This was one of the factors in the decision for the program being cut.”When we recruit students for cross-country, they always ask about track in the spring and since we cut the track program many students who are interested in both don’t want to come here because we don’t offer both,” said Andreas Wolf, director of the athletic department at Skyline. This affects enrollment for both men and women because cross-country and track are programs that cater to both sexes. By cutting this program it follows the guidelines of the Title IX gender equity law, which states that women’s athletics must be funded exactly as men’s athletic programs are. “Since it is only one program that is offered to both men and woman, we weren’t excluding any one sex by cutting this program, both men and woman will miss out,” Wolf said.If Skyline’s baseball field looks a little muddy and under treated, budget cuts are partially to blame. According to Andreas Wolf, the school was forced to cut one full-time member of the grounds crew. Baseball players themselves have been seen taking care of the field duties. Though this is highly unusual, Wolf claims the players don’t have a problem with it.”These guys take pride in their school and they understand what the school is going through in terms of budget cuts and having less staff.” Wolf said. “They want a nice facility to play on and if they are the ones that have to keep it that way they will do it.”