Football at ETSU

[elon_phan]

I found this interesting...


Students vote down referendum regarding new football fee

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (April 11, 2007) – East Tennessee State University officials announced Wednesday evening that students have voted down a ballot referendum regarding an increase in student athletic fees that would have helped pay for a new football program.

“This was an opportunity for our students to be heard,” said ETSU President Dr. Paul E. Stanton, Jr. “This vote did not parallel the positive numbers seen in our previous survey of students last December. While that is surprising, our students have let us know where they stand on the return of a football program at ETSU.”

The April 10-11 referendum called for a $50 increase during the Fall 2007 and Spring 2008 semesters. Fees would increase by another $50 per semester during the 2009-2010 school year. Along with the current $75 athletic fee, students would be paying a total of $350 a year in athletic fees beginning in 2009-2010. Plans were for the new football team to play its first game in 2010.

With 3,229 ballots cast, 1,907 students were opposed to the fee, and 1,322 were in favor. Over 59 percent of the students who participated voted against the fee, with 27 percent of the student body participating in the vote. The ETSU Student Government Association certified the vote at approximately 6:45 p.m. Wednesday.

Student approval was the first of several steps needed for the return of football. Even with a vote in favor of the fee, ETSU would have still needed approval to proceed with the increase from the Tennessee Board of Regents during its June meeting, and funding for a new outdoor stadium would have needed to be in hand by the summer of 2008 to begin construction. An estimated $15 million would need to be raised through private giving and sponsorships to begin the stadium project.

[elonfirefighter]

Wow thats a surprise to me

[phoenixfc]

It's all about money, I guess...the students probably did not even understand that their vote would have that much impact...and many probably do "want" football, but think the school should not make them pay more than they already do...also wonder how well publicized the vote may have been...and if a similar vote were given to Elon students, would they support it? Most of us alums would hope so...but would the current students?

[elonfirefighter]

100 phanatics yes, 10 students no, 4890 didnt want to put there beer down, cancle there hair appointment, or were to lazy to go vote. PS the vote was on e-net

[Adam]

Well, a $300 fee for athletics at a public school is huge. Remember, public schools are basically tax-payers subsidizing higher education to make it cheaper. Private schools receive less if any at all, which is why they are so much more expensive. When I worked at UNC, it was the same thing every year. Students protesting tuition hikes. Which I thought was outrageous because UNC tuition is still cheap. Students want a great education without paying for it. But someone has to foot the bill. So, if ETSU donors and sponsors aren't footing the bill someone has to, even if it is putting it backside a yearly fee in the tuition bill. But if students don't want to pay for it, then the money isn't there. You can't have your cake and eat it too.

That's what really cracks me up when public school people post on their boards talking down socialist practices, when the essence of a public school is socialism to the highest degree. They talk down to private school types as being rich. Well, no, maybe we are just walking the talk of really supporting and paying for capitalism.