U of Oregon Student Government

[jimbogumbo]

They voted to end student fees in support of athletics: https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2021/02/22/u-oregon-student-government-wants-stop-payments-athletics

[Parasaurolophus]

Good on them!

About 10 percent of the student government budget, or $1.7 million, was going to the athletics department each year in exchange for "free" student tickets to athletic events, according to members of the Student Senate's Athletics and Contracts Finance Committee.

The discovery immediately raised red flags. The university had canceled athletic events during the spring term because of the pandemic, and students were not attending any sporting events on campus. The Ducks' upcoming fall football season was also in question.

What's more, committee members said, the tickets aren't free, and they're not guaranteed.

[...]

The fee gives students access to a lottery for a game ticket, not an actual ticket.

It clearly seems like a poor use of the money.


But also, how is the student government's budget $17mil?! Did I misunderstand something?

[eigen]

Good on them!

About 10 percent of the student government budget, or $1.7 million, was going to the athletics department each year in exchange for "free" student tickets to athletic events, according to members of the Student Senate's Athletics and Contracts Finance Committee.

The discovery immediately raised red flags. The university had canceled athletic events during the spring term because of the pandemic, and students were not attending any sporting events on campus. The Ducks' upcoming fall football season was also in question.

What's more, committee members said, the tickets aren't free, and they're not guaranteed.

[...]

The fee gives students access to a lottery for a game ticket, not an actual ticket.

It clearly seems like a poor use of the money.


But also, how is the student government's budget $17mil?! Did I misunderstand something?

For a major university, that doesn't seem so far off. The budget for the small private R1 when I was in grad school was around 1.7 million, and it was a lot smaller than U of O.

[mythbuster]

Student government often includes a large cultural component. Brining in speakers, performers etc. It also often funds many other student based clubs etc. Hence the large budget.

The aspect of this that I find interesting is the role that these tickets play in building the University identity, and the downstream effects on recruitment, alumni relations and the all important alumni donations.  Oregon is much better known for their football team than any of their academic programs. Many students (including those from out of state- such as California), will choose UO because of that sports fan atmosphere.

[jimbogumbo]

Oregon Athletics (unlike many) shouldn't ever need this money. They have massive Nike support.

[Hibush]

Oregon Athletics (unlike many) shouldn't ever need this money. They have massive Nike support.

Agreed. Nevertheless, their athletic department alone ran a $63 million dollar deficit last year. Maybe they need to be spun off into an independent non-profit.

[jimbogumbo]

Oregon Athletics (unlike many) shouldn't ever need this money. They have massive Nike support.

Agreed. Nevertheless, their athletic department alone ran a $63 million dollar deficit last year. Maybe they need to be spun off into an independent non-profit.

The Power 5  conference D1s (until COVID) spent like crazy even on non-revenue programs. I happened on (started looking at because I was pissed) the head coach salaries for some very mediocre tennis programs a few years ago. I was stunned.

[apl68]

It's a myth that high-revenue sports make money for their schools.  Anything that isn't eaten up by coaches' salaries and other overhead ends up at best subsidizing less popular sports.

[Mobius]

Some of the costs aren't completely accurate, either. What are the marginal costs of scholarships or housing?

The actual large costs are salaries, facilities, and travel, plus any cash aid given to athletes.

[RatGuy]

It's a myth that high-revenue sports make money for their schools.  Anything that isn't eaten up by coaches' salaries and other overhead ends up at best subsidizing less popular sports.

Someone once told me that only two schools -- Louisiana State and Virginia Tech -- had athletic programs that actually produced a profit. Everyone else operates at a deficit, including the big names of Alabama, Clemson, and Oklahoma.

[jimbogumbo]

It's a myth that high-revenue sports make money for their schools.  Anything that isn't eaten up by coaches' salaries and other overhead ends up at best subsidizing less popular sports.

Someone once told me that only two schools -- Louisiana State and Virginia Tech -- had athletic programs that actually produced a profit. Everyone else operates at a deficit, including the big names of Alabama, Clemson, and Oklahoma.

In the Power 5 conferences 25 of 65 in 2019:https://www.bestcolleges.com/blog/do-college-sports-make-money/