For a second consecutive week, about 40 students and faculty members spent their Friday afternoon poring over funding for Ohio University's athletic department rather than enjoying the weekend sun or pouring an early round of drinks.
The forum, which included representatives of a new student group, was the most recent installment of the university-wide debate of athletics funding amid OU's budget crisis and featured an in-depth presentation on the structure of Intercollegiate Athletics.
Senior Aadam Soorma, a member of the men's cross country team, outlined the importance of having a Division IA athletic program and being a member of the Mid-American Conference.
I feel like it's more about who you are than who you play
Soorma said. Leaving the MAC and dropping out of Division I would bring a lot of heartache.
Although Soorma was not at the meeting representing athletics, he did say it would be difficult - mostly psychologically - for OU to leave the MAC, a move some faculty and students have advocated to save money.
Soorma's presentation, which he said was prepared by members of the recreation and sports sciences department, also indicated that the major cost difference between Division IA and Division II or III athletics is scholarship money.
OU currently sets aside 85 full-ride scholarships for football players, the maximum number allowed. If OU were to drop down from Division IA, it would have fewer full-ride scholarships to offer but would have some partial scholarships, Soorma explained.
Administrators have argued that if OU gives up its Division IA status, there will be a negative impact on fundraising, but attendees questioned Soorma about whether dropping down a division would cost the university donors.
Dave Ridpath, a professor in recreation and sports sciences, said it is a myth.
There's really no causal correlation Ridpath said. People are not running away saying 'We're not going to donate ever again.' ... That's really a false prophecy.
The meeting also marked the debut of a new student group, Cost to Campus, that hopes to raise student awareness about OU's current budget problems. The university is in the process of slicing $13.75 million from next year's budget and underwent $13.2 million worth of cuts to the current budget last spring. Administrators plan on further cuts next year.
Freshman Katie Mitchell, president of Cost to Campus, said faculty groups such as Future OU, which organized the recent forums on athletics spending, have effectively begun the discussion, but added that students should play a role in curbing excessive spending as well.
We're not tied in to Future OU
but we're definitely working with the same mission as them
she said. We are looking at any spending that is extravagant ... (and) we're increasing conversation at this point.
Mitchell estimates the group currently has 15 to 20 committed members, but she hopes there will be more turnouts at Cost to Campus's first meeting. The group will see a presentation explaining how the university's budget works at 9 p.m. Tuesday in Bentley Hall 129.
Cost to Campus plans to provide students with facts about the university budget and spending and encourage them to write OU's top administrators with what they think should be cut.
OU President Roderick McDavis is expected to announce his recommendations for next year's budget at the end of March, prior to the Board of Trustees' April meeting.
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Emily Grannis
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Steve Hays discusses Intercollegiate Athletics as a budgetary issue at Ohio University during a forum March 5 in the Baker University Center Ballroom. (Erin Corneliussen | FOR THE POST)
