In light of last Tuesday’s tragic turn of events, all Eastern athletic contests were cancelled or postponed this weekend.

“Due to the tragic event last Tuesday and because of the respectful mood of the citizens of the United States, we believe it is appropriate to cancel these events,” said interim President Lou Hencken.

The decision to postpone and cancel the weekend’s sporting events came after Friday’s football game at Illinois State was cancelled. That decision was reached after discussion between Eastern athletic director Rich McDuffie, Hencken and the athletic director and president at Illinois State.

“We decided that it wasn’t appropriate for all the other sports, either home or away,” said McDuffie.

The women’s volleyball home match with Austin Peay, the women’s soccer match against DePaul, the men’s soccer match against IUPU-Indianapolis and rugby against Indiana State may be rescheduled.

Coaches of those teams will work out dates for rescheduling.

Friday’s football game at Illinois State that was cancelled will not be rescheduled. McDuffie said there has been talk by league commissioners about extending the Division I-AA regular season by one week, allowing teams to make up a missed game. Illinois State has already scheduled a game in its off week, Sept. 29 against Southwest Texas State.

The women’s soccer trip to Hawaii was also cancelled. The team was scheduled to depart Sunday for games on Sept. 21-22 in the Outrigger Hotels and Resorts Invitational against Hawaii and Cal State-Northridge. The team has never competed in the event.

“The decision on the soccer trip was a tough one,” said McDuffie. “But we thought it was the most prudent thing to do. I wasn’t so much fearful that they’d run into trouble in the sky. If the nation goes to war in the next few days, they might have problems getting back. If the event were in Texas or somewhere on the west coast, where we wouldn’t have to fly, then I think we’d have gone.”

McDuffie said he didn’t expect any of this week’s games to be cancelled.