 "Photo: Joel Kutaka")
The University of Hawai'i at Mānoa athletic department is continuing to push a mandatory $50 student athletic fee that has found resistance from the Associated Students of the University of Hawai'i (ASUH) and many UH students.
"We are the voice of the students … and students voiced strong opposition to the athletic fee," said Matthew Prellberg, Chairman of External Affairs for ASUH.
If the athletic fee were implemented, UH-Mānoa students would have to pay a $50 tuition fee that would go to the athletic department, generating about $2 million in annual revenue for the department, which is currently battling a $5.4 million net deficit. In return, students would receive an allotment of free tickets to UH sporting events.
"Additionally, we will increase the seat allocations for students to 10 percent of all seats at Aloha Stadium and 5 percent of all seats at Stan Sheriff Center and Les Murakami," said associate athletic director Carl Clapp in an email.
Clapp stated that the athletic department has consulted with ASUH, the Graduate Student Organization and other UH committees regarding the fee and is "currently considering the comments we have received and considering next steps."
The funds derived from the athletic fee will be used for teams' traveling, equipment and uniform expenses. The funds would also be used for student shuttles to Aloha Stadium, giveaways, promotions and activities, according to Clapp.
Last month, ASUH invited UH-Mānoa students to vote in an online poll regarding the athletic fee and an additional ASUH-proposed $50 departmental fee that all UH departments could use to apply for funding.
About 739 students participated in the poll, which asked whether the respondent supports or opposes the $50 per semester mandatory athletic fee. 570 students (77 percent) opposed the fee, while the remaining 23 percent were in support.
Students showed slightly more favor towards the departmental fee, with 69 percent opposing the fee and 31 percent supporting it.
Another question asked, "If you had a choice, which of the following would you prefer?" 57 percent of respondents were against both fees, 23 percent preferred the departmental fee, 14 percent preferred the athletic fee and 6 percent supported both fees.
Prellberg said ASUH proposed the departmental fee as a "compromise" to the athletic fee, and that "currently there are no plans to pursue the departmental fee" because ASUH senators are concerned with students' reactions.
Before a fee can be implemented it must to go through an approval process that begins with a proposal, which is first reviewed by the chancellor, according to Louise Miura, interim executive assistant for the Board of Regents (BOR). If the chancellor gives the go-ahead the proposal is sent to the BOR via the UH president, and if the president approves the proposal then it goes to the BOR to hear, according to Miura.
"By the time it gets to the BOR it has been thoroughly analyzed," Miura said. Miura also said that the BOR hasn't yet received anything about the athletic fee.
Prellberg said ASUH would be at the BOR meeting if the fee were to get that far in the approval process.
"If and when it comes up, ASUH will have a presence," Prellberg said.
On March 31, UH-Mānoa athletic director Jim Donovan and associate athletic directors Clapp and John McNamara first presented the fee proposal to ASUH, according to an ASUH senate resolution.
The resolution continued that ASUH asked the athletic department to complete its own survey of how students feel about the athletic fee and that because "ASUH was concerned about the timeliness of the matter," ASUH conducted its own survey on MyUH Portal.
ASUH's reasons for opposing the athletic fee in the resolution are the current flimsy economy, increased tuition and other rising costs, and student feedback.
The athletic department contends that athletic events contribute to a student's college experience and that athletics reinforces the university's relationship with donors and alumni.
Clapp also pointed out that the athletic department is already reserving "significant seating" for the Mānoa Maniacs and students that could bring in more money if the seats were made available to others, such as season ticket holders or corporate sponsors.
Clapp acknowledged that the athletic department appreciates "the energy and enthusiasm that Mānoa Maniacs and students bring to athletic contests and hope to build on this by creating a sustainable financial plan."
UH is the only school in the Western Athletic Conference that doesn't have an athletic fee.
The next BOR meeting is May 29 at the University of Hawai'i-Hilo. Prellberg said that UH-Mānoa Chancellor Virginia Hinshaw told ASUH president Mark Ing that the athletic fee will not be discussed at the Hilo meeting. SIDEBAR
1. DO YOU SUPPORT OR OPPOSE A $50 PER SEMESTER MANDATORY UHM STUDENT ATHLETIC FEE?
Oppose 570 (77%) Support 168 (23%)
2. DO YOU SUPPORT OR OPPOSE A $50 PER SEMESTER MANDATORY UHM STUDENT DEPARTMENTAL FEE?
Oppose 504 (69%) Support 227 (31%)
3. IF YOU HAD A CHOICE, WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING WOULD YOU PREFER?
Neither Fees 418 (57%) Departmental Fee 172 (23%) Athletic Fee 106 (14%) Both Fees 42 (6%)
4. IF YOU CHOSE NEITHER FOR NO. 3 AND YOU HAD TO MAKE A CHOICE BETWEEN PAYING EITHER FEE, WHICH WOULD IT BE?
Departmental Fee 406 (74%) Athletic Fee 144 (26%)
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