Executive Vice President and Provost Pam Benoit announced her approval of Campus Recreation's newest budget proposal, which will cut student wages, travel expenses, supplies and maintenance next year, earlier this week.
The new proposal leaves club sports funding untouched and outlines alternatives that will have less of an impact on students, said Assistant Dean of Recreation and Wellness Doug Franklin. Before the proposal can be implemented next year the Ohio University Board of Trustees must approve it.
Franklin's previous proposal suggested removing club sports from the Campus Recreation budget, which would cause the teams to lose funding and their free practice and storage space. They would have continued to exist as student organizations separate from the Campus Recreation department and would have had to apply for funding through the Student Activities Commission. Students involved in club sports protested this proposal, which was later rejected by Benoit, arguing that their teams would not be able to survive.
Benoit rejected Franklin's previous budget proposal April 20 and asked him to draft a new scenario that would have less of an impact on the student experience, Franklin said.
Franklin's current proposal cuts $378,000, or 7.5 percent, of Campus Recreation's total budget of $5.04 million. OU must shave $13.75 million from its budget next year because of lessened state funding, and departments across campus are taking cuts.
We understand that the university is facing tough economic times
Franklin said. Any time that you have less money you have to adjust.
The Campus Recreation department has already eliminated its Business Unit Manager position, saving a total of $66,759, and will cut student employee hours next year, Franklin said. This could include reducing the staff or reducing the operating hours of Ping Recreation Center, Bird Arena and the Aquatic Center. Franklin also suggested opening only the first floor of Ping Center during low-use times.
Other recommendations include decreasing spending on employee uniforms and travel, maintenance and supplies, according to the proposal.
The key thing is if you have to impact students you impact the least amount that you can
Franklin said. It's really just deploying resources.
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Pamela Engel
