Two More Sports Get Reprieve at CSUN

After weeks of fierce criticism and strong community reaction, Cal State Northridge is gearing up for a legislative bailout of its baseball and men’s volleyball programs that its president initially balked at accepting.

The about-face by Northridge President Blenda J. Wilson, who only days ago said the proposal would have “serious unintended consequences for the university,” comes two days before an anticipated firestorm of protest at the California State Universities Board of Trustees meeting.

More than 20 coaches and community members are expected to speak Wednesday in favor of saving baseball and volleyball, which were eliminated last month to meet budget and gender-equity requirements. Two other men’s sports--swimming and soccer--have been reinstated for one season through private fund-raising.

An internal Northridge memorandum by Athletic Director Paul Bubb to be distributed today announces the creation of a task force to explore funding the programs for the 1997-98 school year--and perhaps beyond.

An amendment to the state budget proposed by Sen. Cathie Wright (R-Simi Valley) and approved July 2 will earmark $586,000 to restore the sports for one year. Although the budget is stalled in the Legislature because of disagreement over welfare reform, Wright is confident the money will come through.

“I think there is a 99% chance [of Northridge getting the money],” Wright said. “The only sticking point would be if the chancellor’s office asked the governor to veto that particular item. But I do not believe that the governor, with all the major issues in this budget, will worry about something like this. We aren’t talking about millions of dollars. We are giving them the bare essentials.”

In addition to providing funds, the amendment stipulates that Northridge form a task force to evaluate the feasibility of continuing the programs and report its findings to the Legislature by March 1, 1998. The committee will consist of alumni, students and community representatives in addition to school administrators.

“[Wilson] has asked me to provide her information for the reinstatement of the four men’s sports,” Bubb said. “She wants to make sure we’re ready to move forward just as soon as [the budget] passes and as soon as we hear back from the state. Everyone is optimistic.”

Bubb said he will submit a budget for reinstating the sports Wednesday to Ronald Kopita, vice president for student affairs. Kopita will make a recommendation to Wilson on Friday.

Funds available for 1997-98 would include the $586,000 from the state, plus $131,000 already budgeted for salaries and scholarships in those sports. That would appear ample to fund baseball and volleyball, which combined to spend about $380,000 in 1996-97. Bubb said about $800,000 would be necessary to fund the sports and add women’s lacrosse and water polo to meet gender-equity requirements.

“The only question is what, if any, problems must we overcome to bring the sports back,” Bubb said. “With three of the sports there doesn’t appear to be any significant obstacles. With baseball, we might have a problem with scheduling.”

Northridge baseball Coach Mike Batesole, who plans to meet with Bubb today, said that most opponents on the 1998 schedule already have replaced their games against Northridge, an independent.

Even if enough opponents could be found to fill out a schedule, Batesole said his players need more than a one-year commitment.

“I’m not going to ask any student to come to our school unless he has an assurance that he can graduate [while under scholarship],” Batesole said.

The most concrete sign that Northridge is serious about a commitment to baseball would be the construction of a stadium.

“If somebody breaks ground on a stadium, the players will come back,” Batesole said. “Otherwise they don’t want to hear words.”

A Northridge stadium has been vigorously pursued for weeks by Steven Soboroff, a senior advisor to Mayor Richard Riordan, but his efforts turned to the softball field after baseball was cut.

With architectural plans already drawn up, Soboroff said Monday it is too late to shift the focus back to the baseball field.