Four Men’s Sports Reinstated at Northridge Through ‘98-99

Cal State Northridge President Blenda J. Wilson has reinstated four men’s sports through the 1998-99 school year and indicated they should continue after that.

Baseball, soccer, swimming and volleyball had been eliminated June 11 because of an $800,000 athletics-budget deficit and state-mandated gender-equality requirements.

The sports got a reprieve Aug. 4 when the school got a loan to keep them going for one more year.

Wilson said Monday she favors a “long-term commitment” to the four sports as part of a “broad-based” university athletics program.

She announced a fund-raising drive that she characterized as essential to keeping the sports alive in the future, and pledged $5,000 out of her own pocket to start it off.

The decision to eliminate the sports was met with anger, with hundreds of fans protesting to school administrators and politicians.

“I wish never to make another decision that would subject us to such assault,” Wilson said in a statement. “Our problem is whether we have the means to do it. At this point, it is possible and doable for ‘98-99.

“The challenge is to find resources and the additional support over time to do it well.”