4a Opinion 24 Wednesday, March 14, 2001 comments, contact Chris Borniger or Nathan Willis at 864-4924 or opinion@kansan.com Athletics Department cuts Point/Counterpoint Our view: The football team neither merits more money nor is likely to have more success because of it Generally, in the world of big college athletics, wins and losses decide whether a coach and a program are rewarded. If the team wins, the team makes more money for the athletic program. The stakes are even higher for men's basketball and football, which are the two sports that have the potential to produce large amounts of revenue that oftentimes sustain athletic departments. Somehow, the maxim of wins and losses got turned on its head when athletics director Bob Frederick announced that the football budget would increase incrementally over the next five years. Part of this money is being spent to give the current coaches raises and bring in new staff members. Though the coaches had been the lowest paid coaches in the conference, there had been little evidence to suggest that the coaches deserved a raise based on job performance. But the plan inadvertently punishes other segments of the Athletics Department for the losses on the football field by eliminating the men's swimming and tennis teams — both programs that have experienced some success. Frederick claimed that there was not enough money in the budget to cover these programs in the future, but somehow found money to increase the amount spent on football from $4.4 million this year to $6.7 million in 2006. At the same time, the Athletics Department itself projects the team to pull in less annually, with the projected income decreasing from $2.8 million to $2.7 million. Coming off five losing seasons with a tradition that is mediocre at best, it would seem that investing large sums of money in the football team is a high-risk proposition. The overall record for KU football is 511-487-58. In the '90s, the football team was the epitome of mediocrity, holding a record of 56-57-1, with those numbers being slightly skewed to one 10-2 season. There is little one-on-one contact in the history books that would lead one to believe sustained improvement and profitability is in the near future. The major complaint is that attendance is too low at football games and that fans should be less apathetic during football season and not just use football as a diversion until basketball begins. But this works two ways. The football team has given little reason for students to support it because of the team's actions both on and off the field. Sexual assault allegations, an attempt to attack Taco Bell employees through a drive-thru window and the lowest average GPA of any varsity team do little to varsity team do little to team do intrude to attract fan support. Given the history of the Kansas football team, it is difficult to justify the budget moves made by Frederick. The football program did nothing to merit additional funds, showing no sign of improvement, and perhaps backtracking, during Terry Allen's tenure. Increasing the football budget makes the cutbacks in other areas difficult to swallow, given that there is little chance that the Athletics Department will see any return on its investment. Emily Haverkamp for the editorial board The decision to discontinue the men's tennis and men's The decision to discontinue the men's tennis and men's swimming and diving teams was made only after every reliable source of revenue was closely examined for any potential increase. Current financial projections for the Athletics Department show deficits of $688,391 next year, growing to $2,383,855 in 2004-05. At this time, it is not possible to generate enough additional revenue to erase these deficits. The only reasonable option was to discontinue sport programs to significantly reduce expenses. The Athletics Department is required to operate with a balanced budget. In the past, it has been common for student fees to increase as expenses grew for the University's Olympic sport programs. The fee increase that would be required to continue these programs would cost every student on campus an additional $30 per year. Given considerable tuition and fee increases in recent years, it is not reasonable to further burden students to finance these programs. Despite this, there is no correlation between projected increases the recent decision to discontinue the two teams. The notion that the football program loses" money is a Wes Benson/KANSAN in the football budget and projected increases myth created by uninformed sources. In fact, the football program generated more than $2.5 million in profit this year, enough to pay the entire operating expense budget of every sport program other than men's basketball. Football income will grow to more than $8 million by 2005. that recent improvements to the University's athletics facilities did not whersor cause the current financial strain. The video board at the stadium was financed entirely with income from corporate sponsors — without the board, the revenue would not have been available at all. The scholarship suites are self-supporting through private gifts and actually generate about $300,000 a year in excess of the debt that portion of the project incurred. Most of the money spent on renovations to Memorial Stadium and Allen Fieldhouse was intended to bring extremely out-of-date facilities up to current codes and standards. The University of Kansas' athletics budget is not bloated in any area. KU ranks 52nd out of 118 schools recently surveyed in its total athletics budget. The football budget ranks 65th in the same survey. Men's basketball was 66th, women's basketball was 40th, men's Olympic sports were 60th, and women's Olympic sports were 37th. Projected increases in the football budget are a reflection of inflationary adjustments in operating expenditures and increased salary expenses to strengthen our competitiveness in the Big 12 Conference. Like all major programs across the country, the future of every intercollegiate sport at KU is directly tied to the success or failure of our football and men's basketball programs. Strengthening the commitment to Kansas football helps secure the future for all student-athletes. Additionally, the Athletics Department will be forced to increase spending on football scholarships as tuition and fees increase - at a cost of $660,000 during the next five years. Pat Warren, associate athletics director Perspective Kansan editor's response hypocritical, insufficient On Thursday, a rally was held in protest of the Kansan's coverage of minority events, which was sparked by the coverage of the Big 12 Conference on Black Student Congress. The rally was not an effort to get a front-page story for African-American students. It was organized to inform the University community that coverage from some individuals who edit and report for the Kansan may misrepresent minority issues, events and programs. Courtney Bates guest columnist option@kanan.com We will be the first to admit there are many individuals at the Kansan who write excellent stories and do justice to some events. The coverage of the conference is an excellent example of the contrary. Yet certain individuals choose to believe otherwise. "I think we all need to sit down and talk," said Lori O'Toole, Kansan editor, in a front-page story Friday. "Right now, it's just letters going back and forth, which perpetuates the barrier we're trying to break." Yet on the opinion page the same day, she wrote a column, using it to "perpetuate the barrier" that she wants to break and again misrepresent the issue. Natalie Lucas guest columnist opinion@kansasan.com pointing considering that only one week ago, an African-American student told us that our coverage of Black History Month events made him feel like he was on Cloud Nine." She also stated, "This was especially disap- This was taken out of context. J.R. Roland actually said he was "on Cloud Nine to see his fraternity in the paper" — his reason being "this program that took little planning got so much coverage, but larger events that students plan get very little press." Again, the Kansan, or should we say Lori O'Toole, does not understand the issue. Both Leith Schultes, the readers' representative, and Tom Eblen, general manager and news adviser, said the original article could have been approached differently. Why does Lori O'Toole present her opinions as that of the Kansan? Are she and others using the power of the press to mispresent the issues in favor of themselves, instead of admitting that coverage of minority issues has been unfair? O'Toolle used the opinion page to respond to an issue that she and others at the Kansan have publicly stated "could have been covered differently." Yet in the same breath she stated that the letters need to stop going back and forth. Bates is a Chicago sophomore in psychology and human development and family life, and the president of Black Student Union. Lucas is a Kansas City, Mo., senior in education and the co-chairwoman of the Big 12 Conference on Black Student Government. Our goal is to encourage the Kansan to represent minorities in the same manner as others represented. It is not our responsibility to sit on the editorial board or to write opinion coulms, although we are more than happy to do so. Our responsibility is to ensure fair and just treatment from the Kansan for all students. Free for All callers have 20 seconds to speak about any topic they wish. The Kansan reserves the right to edit submissions, and not all of them will be published. Slanderous statements will not be printed. For more comments, go to www.kansan.com. Quit complaining about GTAs' salaries, sport teams cancellations and racial problems. Let's start small. Quit pooping in Ellsworth's elevators. it will be a beautiful day in America when the arts receive all the federal funding they need while the Air Force has to hold a bake sale to buy a bomber. it will be a beautiful day in America when the arts receive all the federal funding they need while the Air Force has to hold a bake sale to buy a bomber. To the Kansan, I feel that the Kansan is a racist newspaper. The paper isn't a student newspaper but a newspaper for Whites and by Whites only. I'm so glad the BSU spent an hour on KJHK doing nothing but defeating their own argument. I just had to shoot that out the tube. Way to go, Kansan. You guys are awesome. You put out a great paper. 图 I just finished listening to the discussion between the Black Student Union and the Kansan editors on KJHK. It sounds like both sides had unrealistic expectations about what should have been published. Compromise. A little progress. Don't throw it away, guys. it will be a beautiful day in America when the arts receive all the federal funding they need while the Air Force has to hold a bake sale to buy a bomber. Is Free for All trying to start a race war? Why are you printing comments whose only basis is ignorance and racism? it will be a beautiful day in America when the arts receive all the federal funding they need while the Air Force has to hold a bake sale to buy a bomber. 图 What is it going to take for KU to realize that it's not safe to have such late classes where students have to walk back by themselves in the dark? Oklahoma sports are so good, they shouldn't be in the Big 12. They should be independent like Notre Dame. Is sex with conjoined twins considered menage a trio? - - Did anyone else want to give Kirk Hinrich and Jeff Boschee a big hug after seeing that picture on the front of the sports page? I just want the Kansan to know that the Hispanics on campus support BSU, so you try to deal with two minority groups because you will be beat. - Who are we kidding? The track team is the best team we've got. --- Way to go track. We love you. - I'm a KU athlete, but I wish I were on the track team instead of my sport. Australia is the best country in the world. - I think any time a KU sport gets Top 10 in the country, they should at least be on the front page of the sports page. - Miller Lite is better than any Coors Lite or Bud Light. OK, don't print that one. --- Our track team needs better coverage. I need some advice. My girlfriend's in love with Britney Spears. What do I do? - We need more pictures of the women's tennis team in the newspaper because they are by far the prettiest team on campus. - If you got too drunk on Saturday night, did it ever happen? - There have been a lot of great showes at the Art and Design Building. Everyone should check them out, even if you're not an art student. Men, they're crescent fresh. They need more ugly rock stars so guys like me have a better chance. - Boo on Frederick. - You would think that if Bob Frederick really cared about his athletes, he'd return their phone calls. 图 I was just wondering how many people have Kansas losing in the second round in their bracket. Michael Rigg's column about the cutting of the sports team was right on. - Congratulations, Christina Pruitt. Your column on Christianity was right on target. Letters: Should be double-spaced, typed and fewer than 200 words. Letters must include the author's signature, name, address and telephone number plus class and hometown if a University student. Faculty or staff must identify their positions. How to submit letters and guest columns bewailing to you photo appended to the column or run. All letters and guest columns should be -mailed to opinion@kansan.com or submitted to the Kansannews.com, 111 Stauffer-Flint Hall. The Guest columns: Should be double-spaced and typed with fewer than 700 words. 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