Oregon daily emerald., May 20, 1981, Section B, Page 2, Image 10

V
jody murray
double play
I think we've just about had
enough ink on the demise of
sports at Oregon. For the past
few weeks, we’ve heard ail kinds
of pie-in-the-sky ideas to revive
one, two or all four of the
defunct programs.
No more. Forget it. It’s all
over. Heck, even Bill Ballester,
who vowed to fight to the last
cent to save men’s gymnastics,
has thrown in the towel.
It’s time to face the future.
And it doesn't look good,
especially for University
students.
Last academic year, each
student paid $5 a term in in
cidental fees to help support the
athletic program. Students who
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were interested in sports and
wanted to attend some games
bought $55 athletic passes.
Then the athletic department,
forced to admit it had overbud
geted its revenues beyond
belief, asked that the fee be
raised to $20. Football and bas
ketball games would be "free.”
Department officials spread
rumors that the University would
lose its Pac-10 status if the
students didn’t come to the res
cue.
So, last July, the State Board
of Higher Education pushed
through a $17-per-term athletic
fee.
It was to be the last time the
state would be so generous.
When it all hit the fan this year,
no one turned a consoling ear to
coaches who offered to restrict
their salaries or administrators
who bemoaned the end of a
golden era of Oregon sport.
And on April 23, in the true
spirit of budget slashing, the
Incidental Fee Committee
recommended the athletic fee
be cut from $17 to $12. Another
blow to the athletic department?
Another reason for athletics to
bite the bullet?
Ha. Ha. Ha.
Football and basketball
games, and possibly track
meets, would no longer be
"free” under the IFC’s proposal,
which is now being perused by
University budget director
Ralph Sunderland. The IFC has
proposed a $2.50 ticket charge
for football and $2 for basket
ball.
Now, wait a minute. There are
six home football games next
year. Let’s say the gridiron
fanatic goes to four of them.
That’s $10 for tickets, plus $12
for the fall term fee. The total,
$22, is $6 more than this year.
But basketball season is
where the department really
rakes it in. There were nine
home dates this year during
winter term. Let's say the
Oregon sports fan attends
seven. That’s $14 for tickets,
plus the fee. Twenty-six dollars
in the athletic coffers, $9 more
than this year.
What did the students do to
deserve shouldering an in
creasing portion of the athletic
department budget? Did they
fail to pack the Pit enough
times? Were too few people at
the football games?
And whose fault is that,
anyway? Theirs??
Granted, the proposed sys
tem is better than this year’s
since the sports fans, not
students in general, bear part of
the financial burden.
But in a year when the entire
University is hanging on by its
fingernails, the athletic depart
ment faces a windfall.
It’s not official yet. So if any
feel the need to bitch, and many
should, Johnson Hall is right on
the way to classes.
VOTE!
Oregon Public Employes Union
Preliminary Vote
Wednesday, May 20, 1981
All classified staff who are OPEU members should
express their views about management's proposals on
these key contract items:
• Merit Increases
• Trial Service Period
• Working Out Of Class
Negotiating Procedures
Contracting Out
Salary Increases
The following are the polling places on campus:
GRADUATE SCHOOL - 7:30 - 8:00 A M. LIBRARY - MAIN HALLWAY
CONFERENCE ROOM (ROOM 121)
7:30-8:00 A M.
12:00- 1:00 P.M.
5:00-6:00 P.M.
EDUCATION - ROOM 141
OREGON HALL - BREAK ROOM
7:30-8:00 A M.
12:00-1:00 P.M.
5:00-6:00 P.M.
7:30-8:00 A M.
12:00- 1:00 P.M.
5:00-6:00 P.M.
EMU-LOBBY
CARSON HALL - GOLD ROOM
7:00-8:00 A.M.
11:30- 1:30 P.M.
5:00-6:00 P.M.
7:00-8:00 A.M.
12:00-1:00 P.M.
5:00-6:00 P.M.
7:00-7:30 A.M.
11:30-12:30 P.M.
4:00-5:00 P.M.
PHYSICAL PLANT - LUNCHROOM
7:30-8:00 A.M.
12:00- 12:30 P.M.
4:30-5.00 P.M.
*** MEMBERSHIP APPLICATIONS WILL BE AVAILABLE AT EACH POLLING SITE
FOR THOSE NONMEMBERS WHO WISH TO JOIN AND VOTE.