2008 Woodie Awards
Lack of student input about athletic fee sparks concerns
Board members admit fault in failing to announce meetings
Benjamin Pomerance
Issue date: 10/12/07 Section: News
Originally published: 10/11/07 at 6:24 PM EST
Last update: 10/11/07 at 11:52 PM EST
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The board charged by SUNY with overseeing Plattsburgh State's nearly $1.5 million athletic budget - drawn from a $162 per semester mandatory student fee - operates independently, answering only to the school's president, and leaves little opportunity for outside input.
The Intercollegiate Athletic Board (IAB) is responsible for "monitoring, reviewing and recommending policy" for athletic teams, according to SUNY mandate.
The board's monthly meetings are intended to be open to students and the public, but no public announcement is made when a meeting is scheduled.
The secrecy is something that Student Association President Kim Garrison finds a little troubling.
"This is a mandatory fee, so students have no choice to pay it," she said. "But students do have a right to know what they're paying and why they're paying it."
Some board members openly admit fault and said they are working revise their bylaws in hopes of showing students why all SUNY pupils are required to pay this fee, which was the highest of the three mandatory fees in PSUC's fall 2007 tuition.
The board has assigned a sub-committee consisting of IAB Chairperson Peter Ensel, SA Senator and IAB student member Webb Travis, and IAB member and PSUC Dean of Students Steve Matthews with the responsibility of reviewing the organization's bylaws for the first time since 1995.
Matthews acknowledged that all of the present regulations are not up to date in addressing the current needs and issues of the PSUC student body.
"I can't say as we've followed all of our bylaws to the letter during my time with the IAB," he said, adding that the new bylaws should improve current problems.
There are three mandatory fees in the SUNY system. While students generally know the purpose of the mandatory health fee and technology fee,
Matthews said, most students are unaware why they have to pay money to the IAB every semester. In fact, he said, many students don't know what the IAB is.
The Intercollegiate Athletic Board (IAB) is responsible for "monitoring, reviewing and recommending policy" for athletic teams, according to SUNY mandate.
The board's monthly meetings are intended to be open to students and the public, but no public announcement is made when a meeting is scheduled.
The secrecy is something that Student Association President Kim Garrison finds a little troubling.
"This is a mandatory fee, so students have no choice to pay it," she said. "But students do have a right to know what they're paying and why they're paying it."
Some board members openly admit fault and said they are working revise their bylaws in hopes of showing students why all SUNY pupils are required to pay this fee, which was the highest of the three mandatory fees in PSUC's fall 2007 tuition.
The board has assigned a sub-committee consisting of IAB Chairperson Peter Ensel, SA Senator and IAB student member Webb Travis, and IAB member and PSUC Dean of Students Steve Matthews with the responsibility of reviewing the organization's bylaws for the first time since 1995.
Matthews acknowledged that all of the present regulations are not up to date in addressing the current needs and issues of the PSUC student body.
"I can't say as we've followed all of our bylaws to the letter during my time with the IAB," he said, adding that the new bylaws should improve current problems.
There are three mandatory fees in the SUNY system. While students generally know the purpose of the mandatory health fee and technology fee,
Matthews said, most students are unaware why they have to pay money to the IAB every semester. In fact, he said, many students don't know what the IAB is.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
RJ
posted 10/12/07 @ 2:11 PM EST
Okay--so you're telling me that the athletic board is able to basically do whatever they want and get away with it? That's hard to believe, but if it really is true, something needs to be done about it. (Continued…)
Mitch C
posted 10/13/07 @ 12:47 AM EST
It seems to me that there is just too much emphasis on sports in too many places in our culutre. I know that a campus needs a good athletics program to compete in today's market, but making their fee higher than the mandatory fees for health and for tech? Come on. (Continued…)
Rich
posted 10/14/07 @ 9:00 AM EST
I don't mean to sound like an idiot here, but isn't $35,000 an awful lot for some extra pads? As a non-sports fan, how much more different is womens hockey from mens hockey anyway??? And why should every student even those who do not like sports have to pay for the athletic department??
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