University of Arkansas students push back on athletics plan
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The Old Main building at the University of Arkansas. Photo: Wesley Hitt/Getty Images
A majority of University of Arkansas students who voted in an Associated Student Government referendum oppose using university dollars to boost Razorbacks athletics, the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported.
Why it matters: The debate highlights a growing tension in college sports over how to fund competitive athletics without shifting costs onto students.
Catch up quick: The University of Arkansas System Board of Trustees voted in January to increase funding from UA's Fayetteville campus to the university's athletic department by $6 million.
- Earlier this month, the board approved a plan to generate $3.4 million annually for athletics.
- "While the resolution calls for the development of a plan to generate $6 million annually through such offsets and forbearance, this amount has proved difficult to accomplish," UA System president Jay Silveria wrote in a memo to the athletics committee.
Silveria's plan to raise the $3.4 million includes:
- Charging in-state tuition for non-resident student athletes
- Eliminating fees charged by the university to the department for alcohol awareness training, parking and student government
- Transferring costs for the marching band from the department to the university
- Transferring public transit costs on game days to the university
- Charging the university fair market value for the chancellor's and president's suites in Razorback Stadium
The fine print: Arkansas athletics have been generally considered self-sustaining, operating without direct institutional funding.
State of play: More than 3,000 students voted in the student government referendum, with 82% opposing potential tuition hikes, fees or reallocations to support athletics, the Democrat-Gazette reported.
What they're saying: "I'm on the record of saying that I didn't think we needed to do this right now," chancellor Charles Robinson told lawmakers at a joint budget committee meeting recently.
- "It is true that the competitive landscape is very challenging … the board has spoken, and I will follow my orders that the board has given me to the best of my ability."
The latest: Razorbacks fans are feeling optimistic of late with the men's basketball team advancing to the Sweet 16 this week, and the recent hiring of Ryan Silverfield as the new head coach of the football team.
What's next: The vote is nonbinding, but student leaders plan to formally present referendum results to university leadership.
The bottom line: The board is moving forward with a funding strategy that shifts more responsibility to the university.