Athletics takes minimal cuts
Cuts to Athletics’ Education & General (E & G) funding as of fall semester were the third smallest to a college or division on campus.
According to the Utah State University Budget Office Web page, as of fall semester, Athletics funding had been cut by $78,055. By comparison, the College of HASS experienced a $507,291 cut and the College of Education saw the largest cut, except Facilities, at $561,436. The median for budget cuts to on-campus colleges and divisions was $173,694.
During Fall Semester 2001, about 2,958 students were enrolled in the College of Education and 4,334 students in the College of HASS, according to http://planning.usu.edu. A total of 277 students were participating in intercollegiate athletics, as of the first scheduled contest (http://ope.ed.gov/athletics/InstDetail.asp).
Student fees toward Athletics increased more than any other fee — $8.75 per semester per student — for the 2002-03 school year, according to the USU Cashier’s Office Web site. For a full-time student, $40.25 of $255 in total fees went to Athletics per semester for the year.
Athletics made up the gap from its $80,000 budget cuts by using money budgeted for operating costs, said Ken Peterson, senior associate Athletics director. A surcharge on tickets now goes to pay operating costs, he said.
Peterson said he has no idea what the budget will look like next year. If it’s cut, he said, the department will probably stop filling vacated positions and travel less.
Associated Students of USU Athletics Vice President Shelly Swasey said some USU students and faculty members disapprove of athletics spending, but Athletics is suffering just as much as everyone else.
Hannah Pope, a sophomore majoring in art history, is one who disapproves.
“We’re paying thousands of dollars in tuition and fees to the university. That investment should go toward education and not toward the Athletics department and entertainment,” she said.
USU’s Commonly Asked Questions Web page, www.usu.edu/about/budget2002questions.htm, states the majority of media coverage USU receives comes as a result of athletics.
“The national publicity the basketball team provided the university during its back-to-back NCAA appearances could not be purchased in advertising dollars,” according to the site.
Of USU’s $10 million Athletics budget, about 90 percent is generated by the department — this includes student fees and donations. The remaining $1 million comes from state E & G funding.
The Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act report filed by President Kermit L. Hall for the 2001-02 school year showed total team expenses exceeded revenues by over $400,000, but Ken Beazer, director of development for Athletics, said the department received $600,000 in annual donations from the Big Blue Club for the year.
Peterson said the Athletics department hasn’t had a deficit in 12 years.
“We would like to be self-supporting, but we’re not to that point yet,” he said.
–katrich@cc.usu.edu