Athletics changes approved

RICHMOND, Ind. -- Despite concerns by the IU Student Association, the board of trustees passed the athletics department's budget plan unanimously Friday. \nThe budget plan sets out to eliminate the athletics department's $6 million budget deficit by 2008 and allows the department to operate without the $30 student athletics fee. The plan also cuts 500 student basketball seats in Assembly Hall, which will be given to donors, and raises the price of student basketball tickets by $4 per game. \nAthletics Director Rick Greenspan said he believes faculty, staff and students had ample opportunity for input into the proposal, which was released in September. He also said he was never contacted about the IUSA survey released last week that found little support for the plan. \nThe IUSA survey found most students would favor keeping the athletics fee instead of losing the student seats, increasing ticket prices and having to pay for currently free events, such as soccer and other Olympic sports.\nAfter the trustee vote, IUSA President Alex Shortle said he was more optimistic about the proposal, noting the language used at the meeting allowed more room for student input. \n"The notion leaves a lot of flexibility, which is what we really wanted," Shortle said. "Hopefully with the language we can work with (the athletics department) on the plan." \nTrustee Thomas Reilly Jr. said he also appreciated the adjustable nature of the plan, saying it attacks the problem on a number of fronts. He added that while necessary, he was disappointed that student seats in Assembly Hall have to be taken away, and he hopes IU could have a student section that rivals schools like Purdue and Duke universities. \nStudent trustee Casey Cox declared the passed proposal a "student victory." Cox said there was much student involvement put into the plan that was unpopular on the Bloomington campus. \n"I think this is an issue that seems like it's been dragging on for the past three years," Cox said. "And I think for the University's sake, I'm glad to see that we have a plan and can put it into implementation now."\nWhile saying he fully supports the athletics department's budget plan, trustee William Cast cautioned that in order for it to succeed it has to be closely examined and updated if necessary.\n"I think it's a solution that needs to be looked at frequently," Cast said. "It should be revisited twice a year, maybe even more often."\nIncreased revenue from the football program is another component of the plan. Reilly said the revival of the Hoosiers is one factor that can determine the success of the plan. He added that while a good basketball program could take in only $3 million in revenue, a football program, similar to the University of Michigan, can make nearly $40 million. \nTrustee Vice President Patrick Shoulders said he voted for the proposal primarily because it gets rid of the student athletics fee, which he has long opposed. He said he favors the user model instead of the mandatory fee because it allows those who use the sports to pay for them instead of having everyone do so. \nThe proposal was originally presented by Greenspan at the previous September trustee meeting, after IU President Adam Herbert asked the athletics department to propose a budget plan to remove its deficit while getting rid of the athletics fee.\n"I have a lot of faith in the plan," Reilly said. "It's a good business plan presented by a good business mind"