CSUN Seeking Senate Aid on Funding Plans

A decision on which athletics funding measure will be submitted for inclusion on the spring student ballot has been delayed another two weeks, a Cal State Northridge administrator said Wednesday.

Northridge President Blenda J. Wilson is considering four funding options for athletics. She was expected to select one by mid-January.

On Tuesday, however, Wilson asked the Associated Students Senate to solicit input from student groups and to report their findings Jan. 24. Soon after, she is expected to select one of the referendum options. Formal procedures then require the Senate to approve the selection for the spring election, scheduled March 8-9.

Wilson asked the Senate to spell out the four funding measures to their fellow students with the hope of finding the option that has the best chance of passage, said Ron Kopita, dean of students.

“Then she’ll make the call,” said Kopita, who also attended the meeting. “She wants to know which plan the (Senate) is most comfortable with.”

The referendum options come with a price tag for students. Student fees would be hiked under three of the plans. Retention of the school’s NCAA Division I-AA football team is included on only one of the referendum options.

Referendum attempts failed twice in 1994. No matter which measure is placed on the ballot, if it is defeated, football, women’s basketball, soccer and men’s swimming will be eliminated.