Like a little kid scrounging for coins in the sofa, athletes at UCSD are struggling to scrape up funding wherever they can. The only way to bail the athletics department out of a $300,000 debt may be to ask the students.
The Student Athletic Support Fee Referendum proposes an increase of $78.04 in student fees for the intercollegiate athletics department, which was underfunded by over $1 million last year. The increase will help better fund athletic teams and provide scholarships for all athletes so that UCSD can remain eligible to compete in Division II athletics. Students will vote on the referendum during winter elections Jan. 29 through Feb. 2.
UCSD’s current student financial contribution is far higher than those of comparable universities, twice that of Chico State and four times higher than Cal State Bakersfield, in large part because UCSD’s program receives no direct institutional support. While Chico State receives $873,000 and Cal State Bakersfield takes in $2.8 million from their respective administrations, UCSD gets a big fat goose egg. Students were stuck paying for nearly 70 percent of the $3.8 million spent in 2005 to barely sustain a mediocre program.
But it’s no surprise that that’s the way the cookie crumbles at a unique school like UCSD. Before voting no on the referendum because students already pay their fair share, we should first consider how different UCSD is from other schools.
The administration has no interest in athletics if it conflicts with academics, because UCSD has its priorities set on being a leading research institution. With such an emphasis on research, professors and administrators see an athletics program like that of Stanford University or UC Berkeley as detrimental. “”Where money goes, corruption follows … faculty get midnight calls from coaches beseeching them to pass this kid and get things like that,”” professor of anthropology Don Tuzin told the San Diego Union-Tribune.
But who’s to say that outstanding academics and athletics can’t coexist? Isn’t that already the case at Stanford or Berkeley? Regardless of the absurdity of such statements, students should consider UCSD’s mission, and accept the fact that, at least for now, the administration refuses to fund athletics. A student fee may be the only option until that mission changes. And without approving the fee, the future of the entire program would be at risk.
The effects of a no vote on the referendum would hurt more than just the athletes. As seen at many college campuses, a strong athletics program can foster great relations with the local community, solid alumni involvement and student satisfaction with campus traditions.
“”With this referendum intact, we will see continual improvement in UCSD’s athletic programs, reputation, social community and national recognition – benefits that far outweigh the cost of $78 per quarter,”” junior women’s soccer player Ali Lai stated in an e-mail.
But as it stands now, the athletics department is struggling. It is difficult to make game schedules due to lack of travel funds and equipment, coaches are underpaid and must seek second jobs and not all sports that have athletes coming back early or during vacation times are provided housing.
But a no vote on the fee would mean more than a lack of uniforms. A no vote would likely prevent UCSD from handing out athletic scholarships, violating a recent NCAA Division II regulation.
As of now, UCSD is the only Division II school that does not provide athletic scholarships, and was given a temporary waiver exempting it from the requirement last year. The referendum would provide $300,000 in scholarship money to student athletes, divvying out $500 to each of UCSD’s 600 athletes. Without the funds to comply with the regulation, teams would not be eligible to compete.
Expecting a stubborn administration to provide funding to comply with the regulation is a mistake. If students wish to see the athletics program grow, as so many athletes, coaches and A.S. councilmembers do, students need to make the effort. If students are not willing to demonstrate their commitment to the department by passing this emergency fee, athletics will surely never matter to the administration.
