With only one dissenting vote, the University Senate approved a resolution Wednesday recommending that every president of Pacific-10 Conference universities begin work to contain rapidly increasing athletic department budgets.
Senate President and English Professor James Earl helped write the resolution in a joint effort with faculty senate presidents at each Pac-10 school. Versions of the resolution have already been approved by senates at Arizona State University, University of California at Berkeley, Oregon State University and Washington State University.
While introducing the resolution, Earl said he had heard from faculty members at Stanford University that it appeared likely the resolution would pass there as well.
Support for the resolution has grown from the increasing perception of a collegiate athletics “arms race.” Supporters say universities are devoting millions of dollars to their athletic departments in a competition for the most impressive and successful sports teams.
Many senators praised the resolution as the first step in working to solve the problem.
“We’re a university with limited resources, and if there really is an arms race, I think we’re going to lose it,” said Chris Ellis, a professor in economics.
Brad Shelton, a math professor and member of the senate committee on intercollegiate athletics, said the University Athletic Department also supports the resolution because it realizes unchecked competition is harmful for all athletic departments.
“They know they’re on a train that’s going faster and faster, and it’s going to derail,” he said.
Some senators asked why athletic funds could not be used to increase professor salaries, thereby reducing athletic budgets and retaining quality faculty.
University President Dave Frohnmayer explained there is a clear and fast distinction between the two sides of the University.
“Athletic dollars and academic dollars are not fungible,” he said.
In regard to the resolution itself, Frohnmayer, who is the Pac-10 representative to the National Collegiate Athletics Association, said while he can’t deny that the issue of the “arms race” exists, the benefits have far outweighed the drawbacks.
He said he could “count in the tens of millions of dollars” donations to the University’s academic programs that were received thanks to the University’s global exposure because of athletics.
Part of the resolution asks the senate to endorse the recommendations of Indiana University President Myles Brand, who has become one of the leading voices calling for athletic budget reform. Brand is a former University of Oregon president.
Frohnmayer said the University hopes to persuade Brand and other leaders of the Big 10 Conference to follow the Pac-10’s lead and initiate a similar resolution into the conference’s faculty senates.
He added that a report is expected soon from the Knight Foundation Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics, and it should add more elements to the discussion.
In addition to approving the resolution urging for an end to rapid growth of athletic budgets, the senate also formally approved recommendations by the ad hoc committee on labor issues introduced to the senate at its last meeting.
The recommendations include organizing a curriculum for a two-year program looking into global labor issues and a center for the discussion and study of labor issues.