Commission formed to analyze athletics budget

Students are one step closer to shelling out more money for athletics next year - however other hurdles must be jumped before a fee increase would be implemented. Although the student senate unanimously failed a proposed 5 percent student athletic fee increase in March, the Financial Affairs Committee of the University System of New Hampshire Board of Trustees approved the fee increase on Tuesday. But President Huddleston announced at the committee's meeting that UNH would form a commission to examine the athletics department, including its budget, within the next two months.

According to a written statement from the Office of the President, the commission will make recommendations about the athletics department's size, finances and facilities, as well as its integration with academics. It will be made up of alumni, students, trustees, staff, faculty and others; its work will be "transparent." The goal is for the commission to provide a preliminary report to the Board of Trustees this fall.

For student senate, forming the commission meant their voice was not ignored.

Katherine Steere, the student senate speaker, attended the meeting and said Huddleston's actions "show student senate's concerns have really been addressed this year."

"I believe this is the beginning of action moving forward," she said.

"Obviously they considered our recommendation and did something about it," said Patrick Cambiasso-Helfer, business manager of student senate.

Marty Scarano, director of athletics, said he spoke with Huddleston about the commission and said athletics will be "heavily involved." He called the commission timely and essential and said it is "always good to review the state of affairs."

"We will work very hard in finding sustainable options for athletics," he said.

The board of trustees was not available for comment.

The student senate had failed the proposed increase to the student athletic fee due to concerns about the overall budget of the athletics department. Even with the fee increase, the department is projecting losses of over $330,000 for 2009, leaving $12,833 in its reserves, which are used for unexpected financial circumstances. The recommended amount for athletics to have in its reserves is $2.3 million.

The student athletic fee helps fund the athletic programs and cover the costs of student tickets to all home volleyball, hockey, basketball and gymnastics events for the year. It also provides access for students to the outdoor track and fields. The fee also covers tutoring, training, weight room time and travel costs for athletes.

Cambiasso-Helfer said although the student senate failed the fee increase, they did not expect the situation to be fixed this year because of its complexities. Rather, they were making a stand to improve the situation for the future.

"We failed this [fee increase] because it is a red flag," said Steere. But she said the reality is "[Athletics] needs that 5 percent increase."

This is the not the first time the board of trustees has voted contrary to student senate recommendations about the athletic fee. According to Mark Rubinstein, vice president of Student and Academic Services, the senate failed a recommended 3 percent increase to the student athletic fee in 2005, but the increase ultimately passed.

"In that instance in 2005-and in the current instance-I believe that the Board appreciated the students' sentiment, but also recognized that there are limited options for quick fixes to the Athletics budget," wrote Rubinstein in a statement.

Rubinstein said student senate's rejection of the fee increase was "somewhat unexpected" because it had supported 5 percent increases to the fee in 2006 and 2007. These increases were part of a three-year restructuring proposal from the athletic department that included reclassifying women's crew, men's swimming, and men's and women's tennis to club or intramural status.

During the March 2, 2008, student senate meeting, Scarano said rising student athletic fees is a problem nationwide.

"No one is immune in Division I schools to athletic fees rising," he said during the meeting.

"Athletics has always been a challenging environment in which to manage finances," wrote Rubinstein. "There are very few intercollegiate athletic programs in the country that don't require significant institutional subsidies."

The final decision on the student athletic fee increase will be made by the board of trustees on April 17. The meeting is open to the public and will be held in Thompson Hall.