CHATTER: SPLITTING HAIRS AT MISSION.

Byline: Lee Barnathan Staff Writer

They might not know it, but Duke Russell and Tom Oliver are on the same side of the issue. Both want athletics to return to Mission College, although Russell, the area activist, wants it sooner than Oliver, Mission's interim president.

The real question: Is the faculty behind it?

As it stands, Oliver has sent a letter to Western State Conference commissioner Aviva Kamin requesting reinstatement but leaving it up to the conference to determine when.

It's likely it will be in the 2001-02 school year, meaning Mission's return to athletics will come as men and women's soccer in fall 2001, followed by baseball and softball in spring 2002.

Oliver says the school can afford the estimated $200,000 needed to reinstate athletics and provide counseling, classes and teachers for the extra students. That's not acceptable to Russell, who says current high school seniors are too poor to attend any other school, and without athletics at Mission, they won't go to school.

Oliver recognizes this, but he says he must let the process of ``shared governance'' run its course. Under Assembly Bill 1725, Oliver said, a college president must work with his faculty.

Oliver said he is aware of faculty detractors but said they are ``on board now.''

So while Russell and Oliver argue over time, the real battle could be taking place soon.

According to Mission's former athletic director John Klitsner, the faculty has not overwhelmingly approved Oliver's decision to reinstate athletics.

It's not just because of the embarrassment over facilities. Klitsner, who like Russell wants athletics back immediately, said one faction argues Oliver has not operated in the spirit of shared governance and he would rather spend money on academics.

With Oliver scheduled to leave by June 30, it will be up to the next president to decide the athletic question.

Fortunately, interested parties can attend public meetings this week and ask the presidential candidates about athletics. There was one meeting Monday night and another is scheduled for tonight. . . .

Chrissy Coeth, a shortstop for the Providence High of Burbank softball team, has committed to Southern Connecticut. . . .

The Simi Valley Eclipse, a girls' under-18 club soccer team, won the California Youth Soccer Association State Cup. The players: Katie Caparula (attends SOCES), Kim Albert (La Reina), Jessica Avina (Camarillo), Allison Cameron (Simi Valley), Stacy Cunningham (Simi Valley), Katy Hermann (Simi Valley), Carolyn Jacobsen (Royal), Ashley Lefler (Camarillo), Kellie Lyons (Royal), Jennifer Peterson (Simi Valley), Kendra Shaner (Camarillo), Monica Thompson (La Reina), Michelle Thuotte (Simi Valley), Mara Werring (Thousand Oaks) and Amy Ortega (Royal). . . .

When is the California Collegiate Athletic Association going to rename its Pitcher of the Week award the Wood Award? Former Verdugo Hills softball pitcher Melanie Wood is at it again, winning for the second consecutive week for Cal State Bakersfield. She's also won five out of the last six weeks. . . .

Although the race was more than a week ago, it has been discovered that former Canyon High runner Lauren Fleshman set an American junior record in the 5,000 meters at the Mt. SAC Relays. No one realized she had set the record because she finished eighth. Still, her 15:50.18 clocking beat Suzy Tuffey's 15:51.13 set in 1986.