Matadors Seeking Loan for 2 Sports

Ronald Kopita, Cal State Northridge’s vice president of student affairs, today will ask the Northridge Corp. for a $586,000 loan to immediately reinstate the baseball and men’s volleyball programs at the school.

Donald Queen, the corporation’s director, said a majority vote from the 17-member board of directors is needed to approve the loan. The board meets this morning in the school’s student union.

The corporation operates commercial facilities at the school and Friday signed a five-year deal with Follett’s to run the campus bookstore. The contract is expected to generate between $1 million and $1.7 million per year in commissions.

Blenda J. Wilson, Northridge’s president and the corporation’s chair person, said the bookstore contract prompted her to explore the loan opportunity.

“I inquired of Don Queen whether or not the corporation had ever loaned money to the university for any purpose,” Wilson said.

The loan amount matches funds earmarked for Northridge’s athletic department that state Sen. Cathie Wright (R-Simi Valley) proposed in an amendment to the state budget. The bailout was approved July 2 but the state budget is stalled in the Legislature.

Because the money is bogged down in the Legislature, and because it could be months before Northridge actually receives it, if at all, Wilson and Kopita opted to approach the corporation for the money.

Kopita, who was unavailable for comment Wednesday, told The Times last week that Northridge would repay the loan after the state budget passes.

Wilson, who is one of five finalists to become president of Wayne State in Detroit, said the university is looking to raise funds through other channels.

“The university foundation, through its executive committee, has agreed to create a designated fund for sports and to consider forming an endowment for baseball, but the foundation has not met [again],” Wilson said.

Queen, who doesn’t have a vote, said it was difficult to predict the outcome. But he believes the corporation might grant the loan under certain conditions.

“I think if it’s put on the basis of a loan and with the understanding that none of the funds would be dispersed until the state budget is approved by the Legislature, the chances are very good,” Queen said.

The corporation, Queen said, is contributing $500,000 to Northridge athletics for 1997-98. He doubts that the corporation would allocate additional funds with no strings attached.

“I’d be very surprised,” he said, “but I’ve been surprised by [the board of directors] before.”

Baseball and men’s volleyball, along with men’s soccer and men’s swimming, were dropped on June 11 for financial reasons and to help Northridge comply with gender-equity laws requiring more athletic opportunities for women.

The soccer and swimming programs later were revived for one year through pledges of financial help from private sources. The school administration promised to reinstate baseball and volleyball if the budget passes.