The Department of Athletics and Recreation is proposing a $120 fee increase to maintain its programs.
The fee, which will be voted on at the AMS Annual General Meeting, would be phased in. It would be increased by $50 in 2009-10, an additional $40 in 2011-12 and a further $30 in 2012-2013, then indexed to inflation.
Director of Athletics and Recreation Leslie Dal Cin said the services or facilities that received over 70 per cent from students on the AMS winter referendum were factored into the new proposed fee.
She said the department will have to make drastic cuts if the fee increase doesn’t .
It’s disingenuous for the athletics department to tout the fee increase as a key measure to halt the department’s budget problems.
Although the fee is necessary, it’s a short-sighted solution that overlooks the long-term needs of Queen’s athletics programs as they inevitably face funding cuts from the University.
Last year’s Athletics Review proposed cutting some varsity teams in order to give top-tier funding to fewer teams.
The department must begin looking at measures such as this to prepare for the inevitable further cuts that will come as the University’s finances continue to struggle with the economic downturn.
It’s encouraging that Queen’s Athletics sought student input and provided detailed information about the allocation of the fee increase on its website.
Although it may be preferable to choose an Annual General Meeting vote to increase the fee because it’s speedier, it’s disappointing the department didn’t take such a substantial fee increase to a referendum vote.
Historically, AGMs have a lower turnout than referenda and items raised at AGMs are more likely to ; this could suggest Queen’s Athletics is worried the fee wouldn’t in a referendum.
A strong athletics program can draw in alumni donations and raise Queen’s public profile, and the University should see it as a worthwhile investment.
But the department must be transparent about the state of its programs and finances in order to maintain students’ trust.
Students should the fee increase so Queen’s Athletics doesn’t run itself into the ground.
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