University of Oregon and University of Washington bail on woke Pac-12

[Woke doesn't pay]

ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Big Ten Council of Presidents/Chancellors (COP/C)
voted unanimously today to admit the University of Oregon and the
University of Washington to the Big Ten Conference effective August 2,
2024, with competition to begin in all sports for the 2024-25 academic
year. With the schools’ admission, Oregon and Washington will also join
the Big Ten Academic Alliance (BTAA), a consortium of world-class research
institutions dedicated to advancing their academic missions.

“I’m thrilled that the University of Oregon has the opportunity to join
the nation's preeminent academic-athletic conference,” said University of
Oregon President John Karl Scholz. “Our student-athletes will participate
at the highest level of collegiate athletic competition, and our alumni,
friends, and fans will be able to carry the spirit of Oregon across the
country.”

“The Big Ten is a thriving conference with strong athletic and academic
traditions, and we are excited and confident about competing at the
highest level on a national stage,” said University of Washington
President Ana Mari Cauce. “My top priority must be to do what is best for
our student-athletes and our University, and this move will help ensure a
strong future for our athletics program.”

"The Big Ten Presidents and Chancellors are pleased to welcome the
University of Oregon and the University of Washington to the Big Ten
Conference," said COP/C Chair and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Chancellor Robert Jones. "When considering the full spectrum of academic,
athletic and research excellence, the alignment with our member
institutions is extremely clear. We are excited to welcome them and look
forward to collaborating and competing with them in the years ahead."

“Accepting membership into the Big Ten Conference is a transformational
opportunity for the University of Oregon to change the short and long-term
trajectory of our university and athletics department,” said Oregon
athletic director Rob Mullens. “The stability and exposure of joining the
Big Ten is of great benefit to the University of Oregon, and we are
grateful to the Big Ten presidents and chancellors for accepting our
application to join the conference. We look forward to the opportunity for
our student-athletes to compete in this conference, which includes many of
the best programs in the nation in every sport.”

“We have tremendous respect and gratitude for the Pac-12, its treasured
history and traditions. At the same time, the college athletics landscape
has changed dramatically in recent years,” said Washington Director of
Athletics Jennifer Cohen. “The Big Ten’s history of athletic and academic
success and long-term stability best positions our teams for future
success, and we are energized at the opportunity to compete at the highest
level against some of the best programs in the country.”

In order for an institution to be admitted to the Big Ten Conference, it
must submit a written application, which must then be approved by at least
70 percent of the Big Ten COP/C. The University of Oregon and the
University of Washington formally submitted applications to join the Big
Ten Conference this afternoon. The Big Ten COP/C then met via conference
call and unanimously approved both applications.

"We are excited to welcome the University of Oregon and the University of
Washington to the Big Ten Conference,” said Big Ten Commissioner Tony
Petitti. “We look forward to building long-lasting relationships with the
universities, administrators and staff, student-athletes, coaches and
fans,” Petitti said. “Both institutions feature a combination of academic
and athletic excellence that will prove a great fit for our future."

About the University of Oregon
The UO is a Carnegie R1 research university and a member of the
Association of American Universities. The UO faculty includes a Nobel
Prize winner, a MacArthur fellow, a pair of National Medal of Science
winners and a recipient of the Pulitzer Prize. The UO has more than 500
student-athletes who compete in 20 sports. UO teams have taken home 38
national championships.

About University of Washington Athletics
The University of Washington has one of the nation's elite intercollegiate
athletics programs that consists of 22 sports. The Huskies have won
national championships in football, women's cross country, men's rowing,
women's rowing, softball, women's volleyball, and women's golf. The
department annually finishes among the top schools in the nation in the
NACDA Director's Cup and the Pac-12 Conference.

https://bigten.org/news/2023/8/4/general-big-ten.aspx