Academic Senate Could Use Study Session

It is amazing how ignorant presumably intelligent people can sound when they disparage something they know very little about.

The meeting of Cal State Northridge’s Academic Senate this week is a prime example.

After much discussion--some of it comically lacking in accuracy--senators passed a motion expressing “concern” over the athletic program’s move this year to NCAA Division I status. The motion centered on a complaint that the school’s athletic program is receiving funds that could be best used in instructional programs.

Northridge’s budget--as were those of other state universities--was trimmed this school year, by $6.6 million. Cost-containment measures are in effect at CSUN, and, as a result, fewer classes are being offered, the school’s libraries are being shut down on Sundays and some faculty research projects have been scrapped.

Despite the claim of school President James W. Cleary, who said “not one red cent” of instructional money had been diverted to the athletic program, many inquiring academicians are in an uproar.

Athletics just happens to be an easy target. Those who supported this motion of “concern”--which is really a vote of no confidence--have been tricked into basing their opposition on matters of money.

This clouds the real issue: Whether the athletic department belongs in the university environment alongside, for instance, the business department.

Northridge has an enrollment of 31,000 students in the heart of a region with a population of more than 2 million. Other areas of CSUN’s curriculum have expanded in size and national prominence along with the school’s burgeoning enrollment.

So why not athletics?

If any member of the Northridge faculty has a good answer, then let them base their complaints on it. Claiming misuse of instructional funds simply doesn’t wash.

Several senators complained that $394,000 the Cal State Northridge Foundation has earmarked for athletics would be better spent on instructional programs. Let them apply for a grant. That’s what the athletic department did. The foundation is a nonprofit auxiliary organization of the university with a governing board consisting of six students, six faculty members and two administrators. Any university program or student can request to have projects funded by a grant from the foundation.

The foundation’s revenue is derived largely from Northridge students through their purchases from the campus bookstore and food services. And where do the students stand on the issue of athletics?

Well, when push came to shove at Thursday’s senate meeting, Michelle Cooper, president of the school’s Associated Student Body, praised the athletic program for its fund-raising efforts and held it up as a shining example that others might choose to follow.

Hers were words lost in a wave of unsubstantiated claims.

One senator complained that coaches were not earning their keep in FTEs--full-time equivalent students, the formula through which the state bases its funding. In fact, the athletic department supports itself for staffing purposes.

Several inaccuracies might have been avoided had senators taken a peek at the five-year budget plan for athletics that has been available since February.

The feeling around the athletic department is that those who have misgivings should study the reasons for the Division I move, ask questions about it, then listen to the answers.

Most opponents, it seems, never reached square one.

When the senate met in May, another motion involving athletics was tabled for lack of a quorum. Good thing. That motion was an effort to pull the plug on the entire Division I move. Later, it was discovered, much to the dismay of several embarrassed faculty members, that athletic schedules were set and the school was committed to a minimum of three years in Division I.

Thankfully, this week’s vote does little but leave a bad taste in the mouth of athletic proponents.

That taste could have been worse.

The senate rejected an amendment brought by Harbhajan Sandhu, a professor in the science and math department.

It said: “It is therefore moved that there should be no monies diverted from instructionally related programs directly or indirectly to the Division I program.”

Told that some of those funds were legitimately assigned to athletics, Sandhu said, “Then we will add that it is not legitimately assigned.”

Mr. Sandhu, please see the first paragraph of this column.

Conked out: Let it never be said that Dean Conk does not get the most out of money.

Conk coaches The Master’s College women’s volleyball team, which will spend two days in the Bay Area next week. On Friday, Master’s (10-10) will play at Mills College and Saturday it has a doubleheader--against different teams.

At noon, Master’s will play at Dominican, then, at 7:30, will meet Menlo.

Are the players grumbling? Well, if they are, Conk isn’t listening. “They have no choice,” he said.

Numbers game: Northridge will begin baseball practice next week with a 22-man roster. That number might be a bit small, but it also is three more than the Matadors had last season. “It shouldn’t be a problem unless we get a bunch of guys hurt at the same time,” Coach Bill Kernen said. “We have a lot of guys who can play different positions.”

Kernen said he will work at least five players at the catcher’s position: Mike Sims, last season’s starter; Kyle Washington, last season’s backup; Mark Clayton, Denny Vigo and Valley College recruit E. J. Pape.

The inclusion of Clayton is particularly interesting. Last season, Clayton played outfield, first base and pitched in earning Division II All-American honors. “About the only thing he didn’t do last season was catch,” Kernen said.

Look for Clayton’s pitching role to be diminished this season.

Briefly: Even if Ken Jackson and Tom Berry don’t go to trial for their alleged involvement in an altercation with a Northridge campus security officer and police, the Matador football players might still face disciplinary action by the school.

The incident involving Jackson and Berry is not indicative of the relationship between Northridge athletes and police, Lt. Mike Sugar of the State Campus Police said. “These are two individuals who just got carried away,” Sugar said. “It shouldn’t reflect on the entire athletic program.”

Sugar said police had some difficulty controlling a crowd that had gathered at the conclusion of the Sept. 14 incident, but he credited a handful of Northridge athletes with helping to maintain order.

Bob Burt can tie Tom Keele for most wins by a Northridge football coach if the Matadors defeat UC Davis tonight at North Campus Stadium. Burt is 29-18 in his fifth season at CSUN. Keele was 30-43-1 in seven seasons.

Albert Fann needs 183 yards to establish a Northridge career rushing record. Fann, CSUN’s senior tailback, has 3,390 yards in 706 carries, trailing Mike Kane, who gained 3,572 yards in 705 carries from 1983-86.

Abo Velasco is five field goals shy of the Northridge career record of 31 held by Jose Ballina, who played from 1972-74. Velasco already holds the school career mark for conversions with 82.

Darren McMahon tied the Northridge record for punts in a game last week with 11 against Central (Okla.) State. The sophomore from Granada Hills can thank the Matadors’ sputtering offense for his place in the record book.

McMahon shares the school record with Bryan Wagner, who punted 11 times against Cal Lutheran in 1983. Wagner now punts for the Cleveland Browns and is enjoying his third full season in the NFL. McMahon is second in the Western Football Conference with an average of 38.8 yards a punt.