Athletics fee delayed until May

Friday morning, the IU board of trustees approved a motion submitted by IU President Adam Herbert to delay a vote on the proposed $30 student athletics fee. The fee, proposed by IU Athletics Director Terry Clapacs, would help the athletics department alleviate the nearly $2 million deficit it has accumulated during recent years.\nThe vote will only be delayed until the trustees meet again May 7, but it will allow for more research to be done into the consequences of and possible alternatives to the fee. \nHerbert believes the delay was based upon the fact that the matter was not given enough time and consideration before it was to be voted on.\n"It is important that we have as much discussion as the time will allow," Herbert said. "As I listened to what was being said, it was clear that there had not been the opportunity to articulate all of the views, and now we will have a chance to do that. We'll only have a short time because it is important to deal with these matters while the students are still in school."\nIU Student Association President Casey Cox believes Herbert and board members acted in the right manner, especially in light of the public discontent shown by student leaders on campus.\n"The main argument that we as students were making was the fact that there was no formal forum of discussion. There could be no arguments for or against it," Cox said. "It's only a month, but it gives us a place to discuss the merits and alternatives."\nThe board agreed the athletic department should not continue to operate under a deficit -- which is why some members added comments during the meeting in favor of the fee. Trustee Peter Obremskey, a former IU men's basketball player, explained this sort of fee is just like the mandatory fees already in place.\n"There is a transportation fee, but many students do not use the bus," Obremskey said. "College sports are part of the college experience, and students are going to have to recognize that and, eventually, take some responsibility for it." \nCox believes even if many of the trustees are in favor of the fee, this delay will help them explore other options to help the athletics department.\n"The trustees said they recognize the problems and only want the fee as a last resort," Cox said, "so they would certainly consider alternatives with more merit."\nOther leaders, such as IU-Bloomington Interim Chancellor Ken Gros Louis, agree with Cox and have expressed their discontent for the fee. Student groups throughout campus have sent e-mails to their members asking them to rally against the fee, and Herbert said this opinion split has caused a need for a better understanding of the issue.\n"It is very clear to me that there is a lack of understanding about what some of the issues are regarding the fee," Herbert said. "What I want to do is foster better communication among the community so that we can reach a consensus about the strategy that makes the most sense. We must eliminate the deficit -- the question is how do we do that."\nWith the athletics fee being held off for another month, the extra time will be beneficial to IUSA, as it can now get a formal proposal for the collegiate readership program approved, Cox said. Dean of Students Richard McKaig has already passed the proposal on to Gros Louis for approval. The only way the $2 readership proposal could be approved under the University's 4 percent tuition cap would be if the athletics fee is denied or restructured to make room for an additional fee.\nNo matter what decision is made regarding the athletics fee or other fees in its place, Herbert believes the voice of the students should be a contributing factor in the discussion.\n"It is very important in a democratic society that students fulfill their citizenship responsibilities, including participating in the discussion of major policy issues," Herbert said. "I am delighted to see the level of interest in a major policy matter, and my hope is that interest will be manifested into the conversations we will be having in the coming weeks."\n-- Contact staff writer David Paulen at dpaulen@indiana.edu.