The mood was somber Tuesday afternoon on the National American University campus, as students began to realize the implications of the changes being made at their school.

NAU officials announced Tuesday that the school has dropped its volleyball and rodeo programs and will not accept any more students in its equine-management program.

Most students interviewed Tuesday had received little notice of the changes, and they said they hadn't heard an explanation for them.

Jessica Coleman, a senior who is finishing a degree in the school's equine program, said she feels bad for students in classes below her. The loss of rodeo and the eventual loss of the equine program don't bode well for the school, she said.

"I think everything is just going to go downhill," she said. "A lot of kids come for equine and rodeo."

Sarah Rice, an NAU student from Redfield who at one time had been involved in the rodeo program, said the departure of president Richard Buckles is a big loss.

"Things got done, in my opinion, the way they should have been," she said. "Everyone was treated equally."

Samantha Sullivan, a sophomore volleyball player from Fort Collins, Colo., said the news came out of the blue.

"I was shocked, because we recruited four new volleyball players from Brazil, like two weeks ago, and then they tell us this," she said.

Sullivan said none of her teammates or other members of the campus seemed to have been forewarned about any of the pending changes at the school. She expects the loss of the sports programs to have a negative impact on the school.

"No one had any idea, from what I've heard," Sullivan said. "They're going to lose a lot of people, probably. It's going to be a loss on the school, I think. But that's their decision, I guess."

Annette Donabauer, who has earned an associates degree from NAU, said she heard about the changes Monday night from a supervisor.

"I work here in the basement in the Animal Health Building on campus. I don't really hear much," she said Tuesday afternoon. "I went through my email this morning, and there was nothing in there about the changes."

Donabauer, a native of St. Joseph, Minn., will soon graduate with a bachelor's degree in applied management.

"I haven't really heard anything out of the mouths of the officials," she said.

Denise Pauly of Rapid City, a 1980 graduate of NAU, said she remembers when NAU dropped sports programs in the past.

"I think it's sad for the athletes, especially those with athletic scholarships, that NAU has to drop their sports programs," she said. "I think a big part of the fun for the young college students is having the sports events."

Sullivan, who was recruited to NAU to play volleyball, said she will have to think long and hard about what she'll do next.

"I'm not sure yet, because I've built my life here," she said. "I could go back home, but I don't know."

See related articles:

Business decisions drive NAU changes

Rising costs, changing student population demand NAU adjustment

NAU: Leadership change and program change not related

Contact Ryan Woodard at 394-8412 or ryan.woodard@rapidcityjournal.com