Athletics/Intramurals Fee Referendum
 

Task Force Report on the Future of Student Athletics

A Student Fee Referendum on the IRA (Instructionally-Related Activity)-Athletics fee will be held on:

Monday, March 14
Tuesday, March 15
Wednesday, March 16
Polls will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Polling stations will be located inside the Cesar Chavez Student Center and in tents outside the Business building and on the walkway between Burk Hall and the Humanities building. You must be a matriculated SFSU student and show a valid I.D. to vote in the referendum.

Purpose
Fee Requested
Services to Be Provided with Fee Increase
Pro and Con Statements
Referendum Proposal Summary

Purpose:

• To give SFSU students the choice to continue or eliminate the Athletic Program at San Francisco State University.
• To allow SFSU to build winning athletics teams.
• To allow the Athletic Department to be the catalyst for developing school spirit.
• To maintain and improve the intramural programs and facilities.
• To ensure compliance with the Title IX and Cal-Now Gender Equity Decree.
• To continue to provide student employment opportunities within the Athletic and Intramural Programs.

Fee Requested:

$17/semester for Athletics and $1/semester for Intramurals for 2005/06. A subsequent increase of $6/semester for Athletics through 2007/08, an increase of $5/semester for the 2008/09 and thereafter, an increase at the same rate as the CSU budget increase.

• Provide leadership for developing school spirit by offering students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends the opportunity to share in the common experiences of pride, vitality, and cohesiveness resulting from a dynamic, winning athletic program.
• Provide greater opportunities for students to participate in intramural activities.
• Allow SFSU to maintain NCAA Division II Membership and CCAA Membership. Currently, SFSU has Women’s teams in Basketball, Cross-country, Indoor track, Soccer, Softball and Track & Field, and Men’s teams in Baseball, Basketball, Cross-country, Soccer and Wrestling.
• Provide the operational resources required for SFSU to build a winning program at the NCAA Division II level.
• Allow SFSU to continue to be a national leader in compliance with Title IX and the CAL-NOW Gender Equity Consent Decree.
• Continue our on–campus sports medicine programs that ensure health and safety requirements and meet risk management standards.
• Preserve Academic Support, NCAA Life Skills, and Community Outreach programs, such as providing Baseball and Softball coaching at two local elementary schools, conducting blood drives, and collecting food and clothes for local charities.
• Sustain on-campus employment for students.
• Implement the recommendations of the Presidential Task Force on the Future of Athletics.
• Continue to support the integration of diverse groups on campus.
• Reinstate Women’s Volleyball by 2007/08.
• Reorganize the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) with the guidance of Associated Students.
  
  

Pro and Con Statements:

Statement in Favor of Athletics/Intramurals Fee Adjustment 
Without the fee adjustment the Athletics Department will no longer exist at SFSU. Due to the impact of recent State and CSU budget cuts at SFSU, General Fund (state) revenue is no longer available to support the Athletics Program. The proposed Athletics/Intramurals Fee Adjustment is necessary for the Athletic Program to continue at SFSU.

The Task Force on the Future of Athletics at San Francisco State University concluded in their findings that the majority of students and members of the athletic community wish to see the continuation of the Athletic Program in its present form, that is, National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II with membership in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA).

Voting yes for this fee adjustment will mean that the Athletics Program can continue and maintain NCAA and CCAA membership, and build winning programs and school spirit. SFSU can continue to be a national leader in compliance with gender equity requirements that assure women students of equal opportunities to participate in intercollegiate competition. The fee adjustment will also enable SFSU to maintain and stabilize the resources required to compete at the NCAA Division II level; maintain health and safety programs; preserve community and outreach programs; maintain existing employment opportunities for SFSU students and expand intramural participation opportunities.

Vote yes to allow students a comprehensive educational experience by furthering their skills in leadership and teamwork.

Vote Yes.

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Rebuttal to the Statement in Favor of Athletics/Intramurals Fee Adjustment
Although I have nothing against the Athletics Program, I am having a difficult time just having enough money for tuition and books. I don’t think it should be up to the students to have to pay for programs that have previously been paid for by the State of California budget.

Vote No.

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Statement Against the Athletics/Intramurals Fee Adjustment

Although the CSU system claims its purpose is to provide an affordable and high quality education, this fee adjustment is one more in a series of fees that the students are expected to bear. If the mandatory fees continue to increase, more and more students face the possibility of not being able to afford to attend SFSU at all. If this happens it will diminish the diversity of our campus population and limit attendance to only those that can afford the higher prices for their education.

There are only approximately 250 student athletes on this campus and only a small percentage of other students are involved in intramurals. It is unfair to ask the general campus population to fund departments that are only utilized by a small fraction of the campus population.

Vote No.

Rebuttal to the Statement Against the Athletics/Intramurals Fee Adjustment 
Athletics and Intramurals have not received a student fee adjustment since 1992. This adjustment is reasonable considering it is less than students at our competitor schools like Sonoma State University and CSU, Chico pay for their Athletics and Intramurals Programs. This adjustment in fees will be calculated by the Office of Student Financial Aid as part of the cost of attendance, and therefore should not affect low-income students or diversity. In fact, passing this fee will allow the University’s Athletic Department to remain in existence and for the Intramural Programs to expand their current level of student participation.

Athletics and Intramurals serve more than the competitive participants. They foster enthusiasm and pride throughout the student body and the campus community. As found by the Task Force on the Future of Athletics at San Francisco State University, the vast majority of the campus population wish to see the continuation of the Athletic Program at SFSU. Without this fee increase, SFSU will be the only major CSU without an Intercollegiate Athletic Program.

Vote yes to build a strong, vibrant, winning athletic program that will be the catalyst for generating school spirit.

Vote Yes.

1600 Holloway Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94132    415/338-1111
Last modified February 18, 2005.