Dear Editor,
As a proud graduate of UCSD (class of 2008), and a current M.Ed student at this school, I was not able to vote in the recent A.S. election, and I wanted a chance to be heard. I understand from my undergraduate roommates that there is a movement afoot to start an undergraduate football team at UCSD, with possible funding coming from the undergraduate pocketbook. I write to express my disapproval of such an idea at UCSD.
We have always been a rigorous academic school, with little time for such extravagant sports as football. We have very good sports teams (water polo, soccer) that make better use of our time and money than the money-sink that is a college football program. In addition, many UCSD students are quite proud of the reputation we have in the city and the state for being focused on the more important things in life. We look down on schools like San Diego State University for valuing sports and fraternities over academic rigor and action in the world. To add a football team to UCSD would cheapen our image and put unnecessary financial strain on the undergraduates.
If, after demanding a hefty athletics referendum two years ago, the athletics program has extra money to spend, let it be put back into things that really matter at the school. Let us improve the sports that are already thriving and respected at UCSD. Let us make the campus more sustainable, and offer better services to the students who are paying so much for them. Better yet, give the money back to the undergraduates, many of whom struggle through school working two jobs to make ends meet in this economy. Make more scholarships for groups who are underrepresented in the UCSD student population. Put money back into the tutoring and outreach programs that have been cut over the last several years.
In short, I urge you, the A.S. Council, and the whole school to find something better to do with our time, our money and our reputation than to throw it into expensive uniforms and stadiums. Thank you for your time and your effort in serving UCSD.