G.K. Lord Chesterton once claimed, “It is not only possible to say a great deal in praise of play; it is really possible to say the highest things in praise of it. It might reasonably be maintained that the true object of all human life is play. Earth is a task garden; heaven is a playground.”

While some might suggest that Chesterton overstates his case, he is really alluding to the power of play and sport in any definition of the good life. For those athletes who have experienced sublime moments of success, joy, and achievement through competitive sport, your involvement in athletic competition is, indeed, “almost heaven.” For many students, then, opportunities to play and compete are important elements of a quality liberal arts education.

I would like to welcome you to a program that is founded on a clear commitment to excellence both in the classroom and on the playing fields. The University continues to believe - sincerely - in that truly unique balance of mind and body in which good athletes and good teams win not only games and championships, but academic distinctions as well. This is not to say that we devalue athletic accomplishment—only that we achieve it with well-rounded, fully-developed students who take a real interest in the College’s intellectual life and the world around them.

This commitment to the development of the “whole” person emerges from our belief that play, sport, and athletics are a fundamental part of any civilized culture. Moreover, we believe that your participation in intercollegiate competition can be a profoundly meaningful experience that can shape you as a person for a lifetime.

If you have any questions about any aspect of the intercollegiate athletic program, do not hesitate to stop by my office or e-mail me, and I will be happy to answer them. You will also have the opportunity at the end of your season to formally evaluate, in writing, your intercollegiate athletic experience. I encourage you to do so because it assists coaches in their planning for the coming season.

Every coach and faculty member within the department understands that your participation in the intercollegiate athletic program can be an extraordinarily important supplement to your academic endeavors here at the University of Chicago, and I join them in wishing you all the best for the coming year.

Tom Weingartner
Chairman of the Department of Physical Education and Athletics/
Director of Intercollegiate Athletics