CSUN Task Force Hears Message Loud and Clear

As it has in six previous meetings, the Cal State Northridge Task Force on Intercollegiate Athletics was all ears Tuesday night.

But instead of hearing experts on budgets, gender equity or conference affiliation, the task force caught the full force of the most vociferous advocates of keeping the four men’s sports Northridge tried to cut last summer--baseball, volleyball, soccer and swimming.

About 150 athletes, faculty and community members attended the forum held at the university’s Performing Arts Center. They listened to Dr. Keith Richman, chairman of the 15-member task force, offer a comprehensive overview of the group’s progress then, one by one, they did their own talking.

Some excerpts:

* John Perez, 1968 CSUN graduate: “A public university must meet the needs of the public it serves. The Northridge athletic program should reflect the interests of the Valley. These four men’s sports are reflective of the interests of our Valley.”

* Eric Gillespie, 1996 All-American CSUN baseball player: “There is tons of talent in the Valley that wants to stay here and play. Our baseball team definitely put Northridge on the map. National magazines did stories on [All-Americans] Adam Kennedy and Robert Fick, and after every mention of their name, it said, ‘Cal State Northridge. ‘ “

* Paul Coffman, 63-year Valley resident whose wife and son graduated from CSUN: “In my aerospace career of 42 years, I’ve seen management make obviously bad decisions, then compound the mistake by refusing to recognize the crisis and take appropriate action in a timely manner.

“I call on [CSUN President] Blenda Wilson to change this course of action now.”

* Norman Pate, longtime CSUN supporter: “There has been gross mismanagement of the athletic department. Not any one person is responsible. I would like to see the task force assign responsibility, not assign blame. I don’t think anyone will give a nickel to this program until it’s done.”

* Lou Marino, longtime CSUN supporter: “This university right now has a tremendous opportunity to do fund-raising [for a stadium or arena]. The problem is, we don’t think big enough. If in fact we have something exciting to talk about, we will give to the athletic program.”

* Dave Smith, 1963 Northridge graduate and vice principal at North Hollywood High: “North Hollywood sends more students to CSUN than any high school in the nation. What message are we sending high schools by cutting sports? How much easier are you going to make it for a high school in a budget crisis to just say, ‘Let’s cut sports?’ ”

* Bruce Nasby, nonprofit fund-raising consultant: “A key to fund-raising is to concentrate on your strengths. The Valley is baseball country, soccer country, volleyball country and swimming country. That’s where the focus should be.”

* John Wordin, former Northridge football player and 1985 graduate: “Bashing football is not the answer. Commitment is the answer, and instead there has been a lack of commitment from the administration.”

Only eight task force members were present, but an audio tape will be available for those absent.

Richman said the task force, which was mandated by the state legislature last summer, will make preliminary findings by early December.