CSUN Alters Game Plan in Search for Funds

A foursome of senior administrators at Cal State Northridge met informally Friday and agreed to immediately begin assembling a series of athletic funding scenarios to present to President Blenda J. Wilson sometime over the next few weeks.

Ron Kopita, Northridge dean of students, said athletic department officials will spend the next few days poring over possible revenue sources after a key athletics fee referendum was narrowly defeated by student vote this week.

Because of projected shortfalls in the athletic budget for next year and beyond, a handful of sports programs face possible elimination, which could jeopardize the school’s Division I status.

Kopita met Friday with Athletic Director Bob Hiegert and associate athletic directors Judy Brame and Debby DeAngelis.

“We need to begin coming up with ideas about all the ‘what ifs’ involved,” Kopita said.

Wilson will be out of town next week, but Kopita hopes to schedule a meeting the following week.

The referendum, which would have generated approximately $2.25 million annually for athletics, was defeated in the largest election turnout in school history. It marked the second referendum defeat for athletics in 1994.