As Andy Furman reports in The Eagle (and thanks to ever alert reader Andrew Porter for the tip), St. Francis College is terminating its intercollegiate athletic programs, according to its Athletic Director, Irma Garcia, who is losing her job. In our post two years ago, when St. Francis announced its intention to sell its Brooklyn Heights campus and move into smaller quarters in Downtown Brooklyn, Ms. Garcia said that the athletic programs would temporarily share facilities with other nearby institutions, but added, “SFC is developing a permanent solution for its indoor sports and other athletics facilities longer term. More information will be announced soon.”
It seems that “permanent solution” became too expensive. According to a “source” quoted in the Eagle story, concerning the previously announced sale of St. Francis’ Brooklyn Heights campus for $200 million, “we hear that the deal fell through.” St. Francis’ President, Miguel Martinez-Saenz is said to be on leave of absence, but the Eagle’s “sources” say “he’s been fired.”
Could this portend the end of an over 160 year old institution? The college’s website offers an upbeat view, noting that a new acting president has been appointed, and promoting “SFC Forward — A Strategic Vision for 2023 and Beyond.”
Photo: C. Scales for BHB
