UNO Vote Underway

((HT: New Orleans Times-Picayune/Pierce W. Huff))

Today through Thursday students will vote online whether to accept an increase in athletic fees that is almost double what they pay now. If the majority of students vote for the increase, which will take effect in the 2009-2010 school term, UNO athletics will remain status quo.

If the majority of students vote against the increase or fewer than 1,050 students participate in the voting, then the program faces an uncertain future.

According to Sun Belt Conference Commissioner Wright Waters, UNO is breaking new ground.

"I've heard of universities putting athletic fee increases to a vote of the students before," Waters said. "Florida International recently did it to approve starting a football program. North Texas did it to approve a new stadium. It's usually dedicated money to help supplement a new entity. I've never heard of it in this kind of situation before."
UNO Athletic Director Jim Miller said he has never before heard of a university placing so much of the future of its athletic funding in the hands of its students.

"When students go in front of their computer to vote they have to ask themselves if the value that the athletic program delivers to the university is important to them," Miller said.

Ron Maestri, UNO's athletic director from 1979 to 2000, said he thinks the student vote is "ridiculous," because the Privateers' student athletic fee has never been adequate in terms of keeping up with the athletic fees of the other universities in the Sun Belt Conference.

"I would hope that (the students) look at what athletics has done for the university," he said.

Miller said he thinks that students will support the athletic program.

"You're nervous anytime there is some kind of uncertainty, but I'm confident in the points we've been making and the value of our athletic program," he said.

Last year, student athletic fees contributed $1.9 million to the athletic department's $4 million budget. The budget is expected to increase to about $4.6 million next year. The athletic program got $1.4 million in funding from the university last year. Because of looming budget cuts, that money won't be allocated next school year. So the athletic program will ask students to make up the difference.

Miller has had UNO athletes go on a major push for votes in the past few days.

He has urged all athletes not only to vote for the increase, but to try to get other people on campus to vote for it as well. He scheduled a meeting with students Monday afternoon to reiterate the pros of the athletic fee increase.

"I'm 100 percent salesman," he said. "We've all had to put our salesmen's hats on. Some say that we're selling our survival, but the fact is that we have a Division I program that generates positive exposure and marketing that you can't buy on your own."
UNO pitcher Jim McGonigle said he isn't worried about the vote.

"I'm pretty confident that our student body will come through for us," he said. "I've talked to people, and they are willing to help us."

But there is a group of UNO students who aren't in favor of an athletic fee increase.

Sandra Casto, a senior business major, said she won't vote for the athletic fee increase because she feels more money should be spent on academic programs.

Freshman Duc Nguyen said he will vote for the increase, but he doesn't think the vote will pass.

"I don't think people care about athletics, because it's not as popular," Nguyen said.

Justin Cottrell, the president of the student government association, said he doesn't have any idea about the vote's final outcome.

"I've heard extremes from both sides of the issue," Cottrell said.

Cottrell made amendments to the original proposal from the UNO athletic department asking for a student vote to increase athletic fees.

Last week, the student government senators approved an amendment to the athletic fee vote that places a cap on the increase not to exceed $195.96 for undergraduate students and $146.97 for graduate students.

The student government senators also approved an amendment by Cottrell to the athletic proposal that it must have a minimum of 1,050 votes to be official. Cottrell felt that was a reasonable amount of votes needed to show students have been paying attention to the issue.

"I think the number of voters is going to be more than enough," he said. "I'm expecting between 2,500 and 3,000 people to vote."

Miller said he expects a large number of voters as well.

"If you're going to have a Division I program, you have to support it," Miller said.