UTC asking students for extra $1.2 million

The university says the fees would raise $1.2 million. The money would allow UTC to comply with federal Title IX standards regarding equality of opportunities for women to participate in sports, and to deal with state cuts to athletics department budgets.

“The significance is that it would help perpetuate the athletic program through the years,” said Athletics Director Steve Sloan. “The short-term impact is that it will allow us to balance our budget next year.”

The idea isn’t a hit with all students, who often find themselves scrambling for pocket change during a school year.

“I can live on Ramen noodles, and so can they,” said sophomore Sara Beth Seay, an education major. “Every department at this university is suffering, and everybody has to make cuts. That includes the athletic department.”

UTC Chancellor Bill Stacy said the athletics budget has been cut the past three years, in part due to the Tennessee Higher Education Commission’s decision to phase out state funding from athletics budgets. THEC wants the athletics programs at all Tennessee colleges weaned from state taxpayer assistance by the 2007-08 school year.

The University of Memphis and Tennessee Tech University raised student fees this academic year, and East Tennessee State University dropped its football program last fall after 83 years.

“Athletics are a part of most every university, and I think they are important,” Stacy said. “Except for a few schools such as UT-Knoxville, it is very difficult for an athletic program to be self-sufficient.”

Almost 37 percent of UTC’s nearly $6 million athletics budget came from taxpayers last year. More than 23 percent came from student fees, and 21 percent came from ticket sales. The rest came from gifts, grants and endowments.

UTC is the last public Southern Conference university without a dedicated student athletic fee. Former men’s basketball coach Jeff Lebo, who took a higher-paying job at Auburn University, cited inadequate finances in his decision to leave.

The plan calls for the fee to rise at the same rate as tuition after three years.

If the referendum fails, Sloan said, the department will not come close to balancing its fiscal 2005 budget because of a $500,000 shortfall.

“I have no clue what we would do,” he said.

The University of Tennessee board of trustees ultimately will make the decision, because all fees must be approved by the board, Sloan said.

Stacy said the student vote is “advisory” and “is the proper sort of consultation and advice.”