“Go Ducks!” Well, sort of. While many students are cheering on our sports teams, they may not realize the extent of the complexities University sports programs, especially football, are embroiled in. Across the nation, university sports departments are trying desperately to compete with each other — perhaps more off the field than on. It’s a contest of who can build the best stadiums and sports facilities, and who can get them the fastest.
One aspect of the “contest” worthy of concern is the academic programs that may see adverse effects because of increased funding and attention to college sports. Students who go to college planning to focus on academics rather than athletics feel they are short-changed.
A resolution approved by the University Senate last May that called for containing rapidly inflating sports department budgets is a good way to address the issue. The resolution was written by James Earl, a University English professor and former senate president, along with faculty senate presidents at each of the Pac-10 schools.
In addition to the University, the resolution has been approved at seven other Pac-10 schools. The Big-10 schools agreed to the resolution last week, and are sending the resolution to individual schools for review.
This is definitely a step in the right direction — while capping ridiculously huge athletic department budgets is an excellent idea, it won’t work if universities don’t more get involved. School officials around the nation need to take a serious look at the petition, rather than writing it off as a simple complaint from faculty members.
Sports programs can be good for universities. Good teams and well-funded programs may attract potential students. However, the current “arms race” between athletic departments can only lead to the erosion and eventual destruction of academic programs.
The University is planning to combat this with sports programs becoming self sufficient, but that won’t happen for years. Giant budget increases need to be quelled now, and the only way to do that is if universities take a focused, serious look at their sports budgets as well as the complaints surrounding them — and the University Senate’s resolution.