CSUN President Backs Athletics Referendum

As expected, Cal State Northridge President Blenda J. Wilson on Thursday backed a referendum that could raise student fees $27 per semester to offset a deficit in the school’s athletic department.

One step remains before the referendum is placed before the student body. The measure first must be approved for inclusion on the spring ballot by the Associated Students Senate on Tuesday. The Senate is empowered to change the dollar amount, however. The election is scheduled March 7-9.

If the measure is approved by the Senate and passes at the polls, Northridge will upgrade its existing programs and add women’s soccer. If the referendum loses--two similar measures were narrowly voted down by students last year--Northridge will eliminate football, soccer, men’s swimming and women’s basketball.

A defeat would force Northridge to field 14 teams, the minimum required by the NCAA for membership in Division I. Last month, Wilson asked the Senate to poll clubs and campus organizations regarding which of four referendum funding schemes would most likely be well-received by the general student body.

Earlier this week, an Associated Students finance subcommittee recommended to the Senate that the $27 option be considered.

Baseball

Former Simi Valley High standout Mike Hankins has signed a contract with the Oakland Athletics. Hankins played last summer with Winnipeg of the independent Northern League, a source of potential replacement players for many teams.

Hankins, an infielder, played at UCLA from 1987-90.

Track and Field

Jamaal Chase, runner-up in the boys’ triple jump for Quartz Hill High in last year’s State championships, is enrolled at Humboldt State, but is ineligible to compete for the Lumberjacks this season.

Chase, who has personal bests of 49 feet 11 inches in the triple jump and 24-2 1/4 in the long jump, signed a letter of intent with Kansas State last June. But it was later discovered that he was academically ineligible to compete in Division I under the NCAA’s Proposition 48 guidelines.

Chase is enrolled in 15 units this semester and said he plans to remain at Humboldt State through the end of the year before transferring to a Division I school next January.

Contributing: Steve Elling and John Ortega.