IUSA survey says students favor athletics fee
By
Hannah Lodge |
POSTED AT
12:00 AM ON Oct. 27, 2005
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Students might favor keeping the athletics fee, according to data compiled by members of the IU Student Association Congress.
Congress members were required to distribute 10 surveys regarding student opinions on the athletics fee and the use of paperless class scheduling. Members broke into nine teams to discuss the general consensus of their constituents Tuesday, at the congress's fourth meeting of the year.
Of the nine groups, four groups said the majority of students surveyed wanted to keep the $30 annual athletics fee, one group said their constituents did not want to keep the fee and four groups were evenly split.
Matt Fortman, a sophomore senator for Collins, said his group reached the consensus that students would prefer to keep the mandatory athletics fee.
"Ideally, the athletics department should be able to support itself, but we recognize the importance of having a strong athletics program," he said.
The athletics fee was instituted despite of protests from IUSA in previous years. Recently, the athletics department has created a plan to eliminate its deficit without requiring the fee. In lieu of the fee, the department proposed a $4 increase per student basketball ticket, 500 fewer student seats on floor in Assembly Hall and $5 per game student ticket price for soccer and Olympic sports.
But many of the students surveyed responded poorly to the notion of losing 500 seats at basketball games and an increase in ticket prices.
IUSA President Alex Shortle said once congress voted on the issue, a recommendation would be presented to the administration.
"If you want an athletics fee, we can advocate for an athletics fee, and I promise you we could have one," he said. "They would love that guaranteed revenue."
Based on the discussion of the surveys, IUSA executives drafted an impromptu resolution concerning whether to open a debate on the issue. Drafting a resolution during a meeting is not a common practice, Shortle said.
Despite of much back-and-forth debate about the athletics fee, the issue was tabled for the next meeting, and the resolution was not completed or voted upon.
Wright representative Claudia Rhye said she thought opening up the idea for discussion with an impromptu resolution was a good idea, but that the congress sometimes lacks initiative.
"I think the idea behind it and the preparation for it was admirable, and the executives did a nice job of seeking constituency opinion," she said. "But often congress lacks the passion and motivation to follow through on their ideas and aspirations."
Rhye also suggested the wording of the surveys might have contributed to the outcome favoring an athletics fee.
"I think part of the reason people voted one way was because the answers were so specific," Rhye said. "I think that might be a little skewed."
The survey asked students to circle one of two paragraphs they felt described their position on the athletics fee. The paragraph against the fee said: "Let the Athletics Fee die. We voted against it for two years and finally the University listened. The loss of seats and charge for games doesn't bother me as much as a mandatory fee. I like to think of it as a 'user fee.' I understand tuition (fees being a part of it) are going to increase by the same set amount with or without the fee. I would rather the money go toward other parts of the University."
The paragraph in favor of the fee said: "I want a fee even with the understanding that it would likely increase. I want to keep our 500 seats in Assembly Hall. I don't want to be charged for soccer/Olympic sports. I want sports to be as accessible as possible to those who find it difficult to afford tickets. Plus, they're going to raise our tuition by a set amount anyway. I would rather the money go towards my athletic experience than other parts of the University."
Debate on the issue will continue at the congress's next meeting. Shortle said the congress can consider the wording of the survey at the next meeting as well.
Survey results also indicated students supported getting rid of the paper-bound booklet of class options in favor of an electronic-only edition. Eight of the nine groups said their constituents didn't mind using the Internet to look up available classes.
Other initiatives included replacing non-participating members of the congress. Eleven representatives were removed for missing three meetings, and 10 new representatives were approved by the congress. A representative for the nursing school is still needed.
Speaker of the House Laura Maul said attendance had improved at the congress's fourth meeting, noting that 38 of the 51 unremoved senators attended.
Students who would like to voice their opinions on the athletics fee and paperless class scheduling can find their representatives' e-mail addresses at www.iub.edu/~iusa.