Hearing Draws Vocal Supporters of Northridge Athletics Funding

For the first time in recent memory, the Cal State Northridge athletics program has overwhelmed an opponent in terms of support and organization. This particular mismatch did not take place on an athletic field, however.

A standing-room-only crowd of an estimated 250 packed into a conference room Wednesday to witness a public hearing on support by the Northridge Foundation of the school’s athletic interests.

The confrontation that took place was as one-sided as they come. The 17 students, athletic-department officials and community supporters who spoke on behalf of the school’s sports programs were backed by enthusiastic applause and cheering from a large contingent of athletes, coaches and athletic administrators.

Meanwhile, the opinions of six students and professors who spoke in favor of a redistribution of funds were met largely by stony silence.

The hearing was the result of a recommendation by the university’s academic Senate to reconsider the foundation’s $4,495,000 commitment to athletics over 10 years.

The foundation, which annually distributes surplus funds generated by such operations as the student bookstore and food services, allocated $210,000 to athletics in 1989-90, $369,000 in 1990-91 and $441,000 this school year.

Next year, athletics is scheduled to receive $475,000, with an additional $500,000 promised in each of the following six years.

Athletics received almost half of the $1 million in foundation surplus grants during the past school year, a percentage critics contend is too high in light of program cuts in other departments.

Bob Hiegert, Northridge’s athletic director, deems the foundation money, almost half of which is used for scholarships, “absolutely necessary to the lifeblood of the athletic program.” The funds make up 10.4% of the athletic program’s revenue.

Sal Damji, president-elect of Northridge’s associated students, reported strong support for athletics among the school’s student population. He also urged fellow foundation trustees to consider that athletics also has experienced cuts from other revenue sources.

Wednesday’s meeting did not result in the trustees reaching a conclusion. Rather, several hinted, there might be another hearing on the subject when classes resume in the fall.

Trustee John Clendenning, an English professor, described the meeting as “helpful” but warned that there were faculty members opposed to the funding arrangement not present who “cannot be dismissed and will not be dismissed.”