Reader comments
USU students vote to increase athletics fees

David | 1:53 p.m. March 25, 2009

KVNU's For the People blog (based in Logan) is receiving reports of voter intimidation on this. You should look into it.

Are you crazy? | 2:16 p.m. March 25, 2009

As an alumnus of USU are these students crazy? Why not add $65 to the engineering department or business school? Or even better add another $65 to the education department. These departments actually stay in budget and get are on par with national schools. Educational institutions should focus on academics. While USU has a successful basketball program the football sucks and will forever suck. Close in the sides of the stadium and fill the stadium with water and turn it into an aquarium- I think more people would be excited about seeing shamu than the football team.

Every year I get calls to donate to USU and every year I say the same thing- Quit subsidizing athletics when that money could be spent where students matter - in the classroom.

I guess now I don't have to feel so bad about not donating- USU finally has an idiotic student body. In my days at USU this would have been voted down 99% to 1%.

Bohris | 2:23 p.m. March 25, 2009

I am a USU student and I didn't even hear about the vote until an hour and a half after voting had closed. I am mad about it too, because I really, really wanted to vote "No". It seems like they made no effort to let people know about the vote. If you make sure all the people you want to vote can. Then you don't tell anyone else, it leads to a predictable response.

Comments continue below

Fatty | 2:24 p.m. March 25, 2009

Ridiculous. I came to USU to get a good education, not to pay fees to the Athletic dept. Arguments for the fee increase seemed to center on how good the athletics program is for the University. If that is the case, what good are they if they are increasing student fees by $130 every year???

Fatty | 2:32 p.m. March 25, 2009

Re: Are you crazy?

As one who actively opposed the fee increase, along with some friends, we encountered an astounding level of ignorance regarding the subject. Many people we spoke to had no idea there was even a proposal to raise the athletic fee. Most people we spoke to, after learning of the increase, expressed opposition to the increase. But alas, we were not able to contact enough people to beat this thing.

If apathy is so alive and well, as was recently demonstrated (low voter turnout, roughly 25%, as well as total oblivion regarding the subject of a fee increase), then maybe we deserve what we got. Unfortunately, those of us who were aware and attempted to oppose this idiotic fee increase will end up paying for it too.

teacher | 2:38 p.m. March 25, 2009

unless you are in the ivy league you better have something other than academics to sell your school. a strong athletic program can be a great draw for potential student and for a proud student body. Strong athletics can generate a ton of money for the university. Weak athletics can be a drain on the university and student moral. which direction does USU want to go. They already have a pretty strong Basketball program - if football could match that success USU could really take of.

Aggie | 2:41 p.m. March 25, 2009

Why do we as non-athletic students need to carry the weight of the athletics department? Ask all the athletes on full-ride scholarships to help donate to the cause of the department.

Oh- and "smooth move" for saving the vote until after student elections... AFTER the Aggies go to the NCAA playoffs. People I talked to assumed it had already been voted for in student elections.

True Aggie | 2:47 p.m. March 25, 2009

As an alum who also has three kids currently attending USU, I appreciate the Aggies getting serious about athletics. The basketball program is the best in the state. The football program has upgraded their facilities and made great improvements in coach staffing and recruiting. This year USU will have its first winning football season in years.

The engineering department is already world class and the USU business students compete well with other students around the state. Rooting for the home team is also an important part of a quality college education.

Go Big Blue!!!

Alumni | 2:48 p.m. March 25, 2009

I would have rather given it to the basketball program.

TAX PAYER | 2:53 p.m. March 25, 2009

USU needs to improve their academic program, not their athletics. How many of the students would vote their own money for an improved quality of education? Perhaps standing in the unemployment line reading the Sports page will make them feel better. Don't come looking to the legislature for academic money.

Wow | 3:04 p.m. March 25, 2009

I can't believe how angry people are about this... I went to USU and my fees increases every year, I wasn't happy about it, but schools run like businesses too. When was the last time you saw 30-40,000 people gather together to watch a chemistry experiment? I didn't use all the facilities on campus but I payed the lab, library, shuttle fees etc. The sports programs are in tough financial situations right now because of poor decisions recently but it will also pay huge dividends for every department in the future. Heaven forbid it may cause some USU students to quite relying on mommy and daddy and get a job!

Logan Hater | 3:09 p.m. March 25, 2009

I went to USU for one semester and could not stand the people of Logan. They are the most arrogant people in the state. If you are not from Cache Valley, you are not welcome. I am glad that your football program is the worst in division one sports. It will always be that way because any one that is any good will not want to live in that hell we call Cache Valley.

re: Logan hater | 3:35 p.m. March 25, 2009

You're crazy! You sound like a very angry person!

Logan Hater | 4:10 p.m. March 25, 2009

I am actually a very happy person. My life is wonderful. I live in Salt Lake,which is a great place to live. I just cannot stand Cache Valley. The best way to see Logan is in your rear-view mirror.

aggiez | 4:25 p.m. March 25, 2009

tuition at Utah State was going to be increased for next year anyway. because this fee passed the tuition is not being raised as much. many of my friends that are still in high school said they want to come to Utah State because of the basketball team and how much fun the games are. if this fee had not passed, Utah State would be a great candidate to go down to division II.

Utah State students will still be paying less towards athletics than most, if not all, schools in the WAC.

WOW | 4:27 p.m. March 25, 2009

I also can't believe how fired up people are about this issue.

I'm a student, and I chose to vote for the fee increase. My primary reason for doing so is that my degree from Utah State University is worth far more if the athletic program is successful. Why do you think people have all heard of Nebraska, Ohio State, Clemson, Auburn, West Virginia, Texas Tech, etc??? Athletics! Its a sad but true reality.

Logan Hater: Most student love Logan and Cache Valley. I've had the opposite of your experience. I'd actually list Cache Valley as the top non-school related reason to choose Utah State over BYU or UTAH.

Get serious | 4:54 p.m. March 25, 2009

College recruiters look at education, not the won-lost column of "student-athletes." If they, did Ivy League grads would never get a job. Cal Tech, MIT and University of Chicago are not exactly power houses. Maybe USU should put them on their football schedule.

Student -Athlete | 4:55 p.m. March 25, 2009

I'm sorry us USU student-athletes aren't important to alot of people at USU. If the art program asked for an increase, I would vote yes because i know it's important to someone. I'm just trying to get through school, and the only way that's possible is through a sports scholarship. I know most people think athletes are snobbish and don't care about anyone else, but that's not true. We're just trying to graduate like everyone else.

re: Student Athlete | 11:54 p.m. March 25, 2009

Don't get the wrong idea, I for one like going to the games and like supporting the Aggies. Athletics need to be put in perspective, though. How can it be fair for 16,000 students to pay a fee of over $200/year for the 300 or so of you who play for the school?

Solution | 6:45 a.m. March 26, 2009

I've got the solution right here. Get rid of title 9 and then cut any program that doesn't earn its keep. So let's see, that gets rid of women's softball, gymnastics, definitely women's b-ball, women's soccer, and probably track and field for both men and women. The only sports that would survive in my opinion would be football, men's b-ball, and probably the hockey team (they have a good following). I may be wrong, but I think those are about the only teams that actually earn money. Does anybody out there have any solid info?

es ay eL from en jae | 8:48 a.m. March 26, 2009

of course they did - it's mommy and daddy's money. they don't care.

Get real | 2:01 p.m. March 27, 2009

They need to get real and cancel all sports that don't support themselves - yes, I'm talking about women's sports.

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