Student-athlete misquoted about jocks at Vassar

I would like to express my sincere apologies for the awful misquote in The Miscellany News article about jock subculture at Vassar (“Stereotyping male athletes as jocks unwarranted,” 4.13.07.) In reference to the article, what I did say was that the stereotype of jocks at most schools is one of muscular guys with more focus on athletics than academics, but that is obviously not the case at Vassar because we place such a huge emphasis on academics. When asked if I thought there were jocks at Vassar, I mentioned basketball, lacrosse, and Baseball simply because those guys came to mind as some of the more “manly guys” on campus—NOT because I think those athletes are any less intelligent than the rest. Just so we are clear, I would never accuse any of the athletes at Vassar of being stereotypical jock meatheads. The quote was taken completely out of context, as I obviously realize that the men on those teams succeed academically as well as athletically.

I am especially angry and embarrassed at the fact that the quote in Musakwa’s article makes it seem as if I am making a direct attack on these three teams. Furthermore, I can honestly say that the last thing I would ever do is make an attack on an athletic organization on campus. I personally play on three Varsity teams and respect what it means to be a student-athlete at an academically-oriented school such as Vassar. In any case, I really hope everyone can accept my apology.
—Caitlin Ly ’10