An economics professor at Rutgers writes one of those opinion pieces in the local paper that generate volcanic fury on the part of local football fans and…
But wait. Scroll down to the comment thread for the piece! Maybe there’s hope.
Excerpts:
[T]he football program has been a bust: 59 wins and 62 losses since the hiring of the current multimillion-dollar coach.
… [B]etween 2004 and 2009, the last year for which records are available, the university poured a total of $32.3 million in student fees and $75.8 million in direct institutional support into the athletic program. As of 2008-09, student fees and direct support — in other words, subsidies — provided more than 40 percent of the total cost of the program.
… Two years ago, the university committed itself to yet another stadium renovation and expansion, spending $102 million to increase the football stadium’s capacity. Another $12.5 million went for renovation and expansion of the building that houses the football program. The stadium rarely sells out, raising serious questions about how the university will be able to pay for it.
December 9th, 2010 at 8:24AM
“The stadium rarely sells out, raising serious questions about how the university will be able to pay for it.”
There is no real question. Academic programs will be plundered to pay for it.
December 9th, 2010 at 9:24PM
Whaddya mean “raising questions how they will pay for it.” Sheesh, get a life. Of course they’ll pay for it, and they’ll do it in the old-fashioned way–by raising enough money on tuition and fees to pay current expenses, including debt service on bonds that must simply be paid. It’s easy, see!