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The domino effect of the COVID-19 pandemic was observed at UCR in September of last year when the Budget Advisory Committee suggested that athletics be cut in order to balance out the negative financial impact put on by the pandemic.
“COVID affected everybody differently. We had staff members who lost relatives. At least ten friends of mine lost relatives,” said Interim Director of Athletics Wesley Mallete. “We were dealing with literally or figuratively life or death situations. Life and death with COVID, life or death potentially of the athletics department, keeping people healthy, keeping people safe, managing people through this mentally, physically, emotionally and professionally.”
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On Jan. 29, the Big West Conference announced in an official press release that 2021 gameplay would return for the sports of baseball, softball, men’s volleyball and women’s water polo. These news come at an opportune time for UC Riverside, who is transitioning into a change of leadership with new Interim Athletic Director Wes Mallette and is still discussing whether formal athletics will remain at the university.
The Big West is making this step forward with their focus still remaining on the “health, safety and well-being of our student-athletes and we will continue to evaluate the pandemic’s effect on our ability to provide a safe environment for competition,” said Big West Commissioner Dan Butterly. As such, the schedule format has changed, contests have been limited and all institutions will continue to adhere to health guidelines and COVID-19 testing protocols. In an email interview with The Highlander, Mallette stated that