Student voice is heard...

[duckbillplatty]

Listen to Dwayne's idea for the Ladies building. That's prolly the most pressing need outside of lights at the Joe.

Doc, I must have forgotten this from the facilities thread or something... Regardless, I couldn't find it. Can you point me to what DFM posted?

EDIT - Nevermind. I see that he had just posted that in the past couple days on the JO thread.

[johnnylightnin]

Can we not use the money if the facility is not used only by the athletic department. Students are able to run on the track, so don't call it an athletic facility, call it a general facility.

[RealityCheck]

I would like to see the original proposal to collect student fees for athletics. If anyone has it please post it here. Thanks.

All I have ever seen was agenda item F.1. from the University of Louisiana Board of Supervisors meeting on April 23, 2004....

F.1. Louisiana Tech University's request for approval to allow a student self-assessed fee referendum to provide monies to student organizations and athletics.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System does hereby approve Louisiana Tech University's request for approval to allow a student self-assessed fee referendum to provide monies to student organizations and athletics.

This item originally appeared in the April 8, 2004 issue of The Tech Talk.

By TILISHA T. ALEXANDER
Staff Writer
A proposed student fee increase will benefit athletics, especially if Tech is invited to join Conference USA, one of the nation's top athletic conferences.

A student self-assessed fee proposal has been updated to include a $10 increase for the athletic department, and several organizations such as Student Government Association, Union Board and KLPI will also receive an increase for the Fall 2004 school year.

Jennifer Porter, SGA president and a senior marketing major, said the important fee increase is in athletics because that is what the community will see the most.

"The athletic department's budget is in a decline, and what the public sees the most about a university are sports," Porter said. "With the increase, it could help recruit good athletes."
Porter said if the fee is passed, it will put the university in Conference USA, instead of the Western Athletic Conference.

"If we become a part of Conference USA, then our association will be broader, and we will be able to travel to games that are not at home," Porter said. "And students will probably be more involved."

Currently, there is no fee assessment for this department.

Jim Oakes, athletic director, said student athletes could definitely benefit because the increase could "help the university remain competitive from an economic standpoint."
Porter said, "Since the proposal, we have gained a closer relationship with athletics. I see so many improvements because we are working together trying to gain solutions to better serve the students."

Kaia Durrant-Nairne, a shot-put-thrower for the track team and a senior biology major, said if the fee increase is added for the 2004 year, it will help the university get more recognition around the United States.

"Everyone knows that Conference USA is one of the top conferences in the world," Durrant-Nairne said. "If we are able to get in, recruiting will be better for the school and we will have better competition."

Justin Adcock, SGA vice president and a junior marketing major, said because of a closer relationship with the athletic department and the initiative to get students to sporting events, the athletics department has decided to open facilities to students.

"Instead of just using the [Maxie Lambright Intramural Sports Center] for student sports activities, it has been decided for students to use places such as Joe Aillet football stadium or the Thomas Assembly Center," Adcock said. "This may increase the number of student participation at games.

"The increase will help by allowing us to serve the students better with more concerts and [provide] more give-aways," Adcock said. "We will be able to do more because we will have more money."

Jacob Grosskopf, a junior biology major, said as long as games are still free, then the proposal is OK.

"I would vote yes on the proposal because it will help our games be more exciting," Grosskopf said. "I think it's a good idea to include an athletic increase because it can really get students more involved in activities."
Students will vote on the proposal in the regular SGA elections April 28 through 29.

I don't see anything in either the resolution or the Tech Talk article that makes me believe there was ever any intention to use the money for anything other than the budget. That's created the bind in using the money for facilities instead.

[Dawg06]

The following is an excerpt from a referendum released to students in April 2004.

Vote YES! Referendum "Get More."

Athletics - $10.00

This portion of the increase could play a significant role in deciding if Tech is selected to join Conference USA. As a member of C-USA, Tech would play teams like Rice, SMU, and Tulane. Away games would be played closer, and students would be more likely to attend. Also, more coverage on ESPN would be possible, which helps in recruiting. For example, when Tech played in the Humanitarian Bowl in Idaho two years ago, it received a flood of applicants from the Boise area.

With more funding, athletics will create a student advisory board. This team of students will advise the athletics department on a number of issues, such as ways to increase attendance, different promotional ideas, and how to cater to student wants. Students would also gain access to the TAC and stadium to use for intramural finals and championships. Eventually, Joe Aillet Stadium will be turfed to allow student organizations to hold concerts and other events inside the stadium. Another result of the turfed field is students would be allowed to use the practice field, which is currently restricted. Club sports would also be given access to the sports medicine and training facilities. Currently athletics does not receive money from student self-assessed fees. Other schools in our state have recently passed student self-assessed fees of this same nature.

[TECH88]

All I have ever seen was agenda item F.1. from the University of Louisiana Board of Supervisors meeting on April 23, 2004....

F.1. Louisiana Tech University's request for approval to allow a student self-assessed fee referendum to provide monies to student organizastions and athletics.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System does hereby approve Louisiana Tech University's request for approval to allow a student self-assessed fee referendum to provide monies to student organizations and athletics.

This item originally appeared in the April 8, 2004 issue of The Tech Talk.

By TILISHA T. ALEXANDER
Staff Writer
A proposed student fee increase will benefit athletics, especially if Tech is invited to join Conference USA, one of the nation's top athletic conferences.

A student self-assessed fee proposal has been updated to include a $10 increase for the athletic department, and several organizations such as Student Government Association, Union Board and KLPI will also receive an increase for the Fall 2004 school year.

Jennifer Porter, SGA president and a senior marketing major, said the important fee increase is in athletics because that is what the community will see the most.

"The athletic department's budget is in a decline, and what the public sees the most about a university are sports," Porter said. "With the increase, it could help recruit good athletes."
Porter said if the fee is passed, it will put the university in Conference USA, instead of the Western Athletic Conference.

"If we become a part of Conference USA, then our association will be broader, and we will be able to travel to games that are not at home," Porter said. "And students will probably be more involved."

Currently, there is no fee assessment for this department.

Jim Oakes, athletic director, said student athletes could definitely benefit because the increase could "help the university remain competitive from an economic standpoint."
Porter said, "Since the proposal, we have gained a closer relationship with athletics. I see so many improvements because we are working together trying to gain solutions to better serve the students."

Kaia Durrant-Nairne, a shot-put-thrower for the track team and a senior biology major, said if the fee increase is added for the 2004 year, it will help the university get more recognition around the United States.

"Everyone knows that Conference USA is one of the top conferences in the world," Durrant-Nairne said. "If we are able to get in, recruiting will be better for the school and we will have better competition."

Justin Adcock, SGA vice president and a junior marketing major, said because of a closer relationship with the athletic department and the initiative to get students to sporting events, the athletics department has decided to open facilities to students.

"Instead of just using the [Maxie Lambright Intramural Sports Center] for student sports activities, it has been decided for students to use places such as Joe Aillet football stadium or the Thomas Assembly Center," Adcock said. "This may increase the number of student participation at games.

"The increase will help by allowing us to serve the students better with more concerts and [provide] more give-aways," Adcock said. "We will be able to do more because we will have more money."

Jacob Grosskopf, a junior biology major, said as long as games are still free, then the proposal is OK.

"I would vote yes on the proposal because it will help our games be more exciting," Grosskopf said. "I think it's a good idea to include an athletic increase because it can really get students more involved in activities."
Students will vote on the proposal in the regular SGA elections April 28 through 29.

I don't see anything in either the resolution or the Tech Talk article that makes me believe there was ever any intention to use the money for anything other than the budget. That's created the bind in using the money for facilities instead.

Thanks, I can see why there's all this confusion. I find it interesting that Oakes had little to say on the proposal even though it would dramatically affect his department. Read Porter's quotes again, it's as if JO gave her a script to go by.

[JFord]

The following is an excerpt from a referendum released to students in April 2004.

Vote YES! Referendum "Get More."

Athletics - $10.00

This portion of the increase could play a significant role in deciding if Tech is selected to join Conference USA. As a member of C-USA, Tech would play teams like Rice, SMU, and Tulane. Away games would be played closer, and students would be more likely to attend. Also, more coverage on ESPN would be possible, which helps in recruiting. For example, when Tech played in the Humanitarian Bowl in Idaho two years ago, it received a flood of applicants from the Boise area.

With more funding, athletics will create a student advisory board. This team of students will advise the athletics department on a number of issues, such as ways to increase attendance, different promotional ideas, and how to cater to student wants. Students would also gain access to the TAC and stadium to use for intramural finals and championships. Eventually, Joe Aillet Stadium will be turfed to allow student organizations to hold concerts and other events inside the stadium. Another result of the turfed field is students would be allowed to use the practice field, which is currently restricted. Club sports would also be given access to the sports medicine and training facilities. Currently athletics does not receive money from student self-assessed fees. Other schools in our state have recently passed student self-assessed fees of this same nature.

Because students are allowed to use the facilities there should be no problem.

Thanks Eric for posting this.

JFord

[CaseyDawg]

What happened at the meeting.

[Dawg06]

DR is supposedly working to get the money approved to be spent.

Facility upgrades were discussed.

SGA will submit a proposal at a follow up meeting in August.

[CaseyDawg]

DR is supposedly working to get the money approved to be spent.

Facility upgrades were discussed.

SGA will submit a proposal at a follow up meeting in August.

Thanks, good to know.
Any discussion on the amount of money to be spend on facility upgrades versus operating budget?


Have to say a thanks to SGA for working on this.

[Dawg06]

Thanks, good to know.
Any discussion on the amount of money to be spend on facility upgrades versus operating budget?


Have to say a thanks to SGA for working on this.

The proposal will be for facility improvements. Ultimately, DR and JO get to decide how the money will be spent.

[CaseyDawg]

The proposal will be for facility improvements. Ultimately, DR and JO get to decide how the money will be spent.

Look forward to seeing this money get spent. Glad that DR is working on this.

[Dwayne From Minden]

The proposal will be for facility improvements. Ultimately, DR and JO get to decide how the money will be spent.

That is a VERY wise choice -

[firedog]

How much money is it now?

[TECH88]

The proposal will be for facility improvements. Ultimately, DR and JO get to decide how the money will be spent.

I'll believe it when I see it. We better stay on top of this and hold their feet to the fire.

[Dawg06]

How much money is it now?

DR and JO claim for it to be around $400,000.

My estimate was around $600,000.

After 2 full years of collecting $10 per quarter from each student, I do not understand why the sum is not greater.

In 6 weeks approximately 10,000 Tech students will each add $10 to that total.