More coverage about the Student Athletic Fee passage

HSA Note: "After nearly 2 1/2 hours of often passionate public testimony, presentations and discussion, the Board of Regents voted 11-3 to approve a mandatory $50-per-semester fee for all full- and part-time Manoa students beginning the spring 2011 semester. The fee is calculated to raise nearly $2 million, about $1.85 million of which will be kept by the athletic department to help fund scholarships and pay for equipment and materials. UH said the money will not be used for coaching or administrative salaries. In return, students will receive free admission to athletic events, including up to 5,000 seats for home football games, transportation to Aloha Stadium and a say in the use of 5 percent to 8 percent of the fees to "enhance the student experience." "

About how they project that they can eliminate their deficit and start paying back the accumulated debt with the student fee, JD said:
"Our early projections for fiscal year 2012 show a very good chance of being in the black and paying off some of that accumulated debt." (HSA)

HSA Note: "Regents Chairman Howard Karr said a solvent athletic department would allow it to "start paying back Manoa so that they can use that money for other things" and warned that regents would be reviewing the situation. Donovan said the state of the economy and fortunes of the football team would be key factors in meeting the 2012 target. The three regents who voted against the proposal—Artemio Baxa, Chuck Gee and John Holzman—all questioned the timing of the measure amid academic cuts and a tough economy."

Unhappy with the timing of the fee, Regent Chuck Gee said:
"I am saying it is bad timing. I think we need to find other options beyond the mandatory fee." (HSA)

Unmoved by the argument that UH should have an athletics fee because the other WAC schools have one, Gee said:
"That may be the modus operandi of most WAC universities. It doesn't necessarily mean that we have to follow suit." (HSA)

Supporting the Athletic Fee, Chancellor Hinshaw said:
"The goal of this investment is for our students to benefit from a strong, visible sports program that magnifies UH-Manoa's image along with encouraging greater student participation in athletic events—providing memorable experiences that connect them with UH-Manoa now and throughout their lives." (HSA)

About how the Athleic Fee will encourage more students to go to games, Wahine Volleyball coach Dave Shoji said:
"It will really increase our support from the student body. I can see people in the dorm with nothing to do on a Friday or Saturday night say, 'Hey, it's free. Let's go down and watch a game.'" (HSA)

About the message that passing the fee is sending, Andrew Itsuno (President of the Associated Students of the University of Hawaii) said:
"By passing (the fee) amid strong opposition from both ASUH and the Graduate Student Organization, the regents sent a clear message to the students of the university that it is acceptable to disregard process in making decisions." (HSA)

HSA Note: "Professor emeritus George Simson termed the fee "a bad piece of exploitation" on "those least able to pay" and said it was "totally foreign to the main aims of a first-class university." But walk-on football player Jett Jasper from Kauai said the fee would allow UH athletes "to compete at the highest level" and on a "level playing field with other athletes (at rival schools)." Jasper described the fee as the "most important athletic issue since (going) Division I" and said the athletic department is on "life support" financially."

About how they won't get any Athletic Fee money until 2011 but "in a show of good faith" they will let UH students go to all UH games for free (except for the USC game), JD said:
"We want to work with the students to make this a win-win situation." (HSA)

Asked if a significant number of students will attend games now, JD said:
"You have to ask me that one in a year." (HSA)

http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/hawaiinews/20100716_UH_athletic_fee_passes.html

http://www.staradvertiser.com/columnists/furtherreview/20100716_Whatever_the_spin_its_students_who_get_stuck_with_the_bill.html