‘Desperate’ Situation Hurting Fund-Raising

Disarray in the Cal State Northridge athletic department has created a catch-22 situation that has hampered the department’s fund-raising abilities, the school’s director of university development said Monday.

“It is much easier to raise money for a successful program,” Michael Hammerschmidt said at the weekly meeting of the Northridge Task Force on Intercollegiate Athletics. “It is very difficult to raise money for what is perceived as a desperate situation.”

Michael Rehm, newly appointed assistant athletic director of development, echoed those sentiments and recommended that Northridge initiate a capital campaign that would raise the funds necessary to build the kind of facilities that will demonstrate to the community that the school is “devoted to developing [an NCAA] Division I athletic program.”

“We already have the talent on the field,” Rehm said. “What we’re not offering is a Division I facility.”

Both Rehm and Hammerschmidt noted that it will take time to establish a successful fund-raising program. Hammerschmidt pointed out that the development program at Northridge was created only three years ago, yet generated $4.1 million in the 1995-96 fiscal year and $7.4 million in 1996-97.

“Fund-raising is not an exact science--your figures are going to vary from year to year,” Rehm said. “It’s a building process and it has to be a university-wide priority. I can’t go out and do it alone.”

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On the Record

Cal State Northridge Task Force on Intercollegiate Athletics

Next meeting: Tonight

When: 7 to 9 p.m.

Where: Performing Arts Center of the University Student Union

Topics: Community members wil have the chance to comment on CSUN athletics at an open community forum.