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Show Signpost- Monday, May 9, 1988 9 liiWI "ii ' . , Blaine I j Bringhurst Cl A Sports Editor fc """" jjj Athletics important to curriculum Stay the course. Those familiar with the financial problems that this country has undergone over the last decade or so my relate this phrase to President Reagen asking the country to have faith in his economic plans. Not only is stay the course applicable to Reagonomics, it also holds great significance when dealing with the financially troubled Weber State College Athletic Department Essentially that is what incoming Athletic Director Mike Price told those who attended last Thursday night's athletic forum. "We have to be patient and figure out ways to make the program work better," said Price. "Things will only get better at Weber State, I will guarantee that," he added. Those at the forum, which was designed to create input from student, faculty, staff and members of the Ogdcn community, learned of the financial difficulty the program was suffering. Many options of solving this problem, many of which were unfavorable. Weber State College Sociology professor, Mike Toth, felt that we should do away with intercollegiate sports at Weber State entirely. I say hogwash. Athletics are an important part of Weber State, one that can not be done away with. There are many great things athletics gives to this school and community that could not be attained elsewhere. The athletic department funds many things that the public probably doesn't know about This college receives national attention from its athletic department. This publicity would cost a fortune if it was received via the advertising route. For example, when Mike Price's name came up on the list of candidates for the University of Illinois head football coach position, the Chicago Tribune published an article on Price and included a half page article on the whereabouts of Weber State and how to pronounce the name. We're talking a newspaper with a circulation of about 3.5 million readers. Great publicity. Advertising is not the only thing our athletic department funds in a round about sort of way. It also funds a portion of the music department. Yes that's right, the music department. The money the college spends on the Weber State marching band comes directly from the athletic department budget. So if we do away with the athletic department, we would be forced to do away with the marching band. Suddenly music majors are proponents of the athletic department. How about all of those coaches that teach physical education classes. These coaches salaries are tabbed on to, you guessed it, the athletics department budget. If we drop the athletic program, we will have to find funding to pay for new teachers salaries. Toth argued that Weber State was in the business of educating not entertaining. By this he meant that the College should not pay to entertain the members of the community by putting on athletic events. Well, many of those that the College pays to 'entertain' are the biggest financial backers of the school. Dropping athletics would only alienate some of this schools biggest donors. Student-athlete Ken Bcazer had something to say about Toth's statement. "I feel that my athletic experience should not be separated from my education," Bcazer said at the forum. "Athletics have really helped me grow as a person and my experience in athletics will help me get a job when I graduate," he added. I think that the college should always be able to find money to help people like Ken Bcazer get the best education they can. (cont'd Forum have in recent years. Since the athletic department receives some money from these funds, the absence of an increase in the state's support has hurt the operation of the athletic department There are several ways the athletic department receives money. The college seems to be doing a reasonably good job at controlling what they can, however, state appropriated funds are out of their hands. "Weber State ticket sales and broadcasting rights are right about on the national average," said Alan Simkins the Vice President of Business Affairs at Weber Slate. "However, we are getting hurt because the state appropriated funds are from front page) much lower than the national average." After hearing the dismal financial situation, the members of a ten-speaker panel discussed the possibilities of changing NCAA Divisions. After discussing the possibilities, it was decided that Weber State was best suited right were it is. When the scheduled speakers finished, the panel asked for suggestions and input from the audience. Several solid suggestion were rendered, ones that Price thought may help. "I think it is a good idea to get input form the community," Price said. "I learned a lot tonight. We'll just keep looking for answers. Things are only going to get better at Weber State, I'll guarantee that" Lack of funds kills program In lieu of the financial problems the Weber State College Athletic Department is experiencing, the wrestling program has been dropped. "There is no money for the wrestling program inour budget," incoming Athletic Director Mike Price said during Thursday's Athletic Forum. "Last year they were privatley funded and that money just ran out." After intense scrutiny, Price felt that dropping the program was the best way to go. "I just felt that if Weber State's name was going to be on the program, we were going to run a first class program," Price said. "I felt if the money wasn't going to be available to do that, then lets just drop the program." The absence of funds has claimed another Weber State program. Last year the women's golf team was cut from the program. Unless funding becomes more accessible, more programs may be cut in the future. Wildcats near sixth straight crown Karen Packham Staff Reporter Rain soaked courts and gushing wind was the scene of the Big Sky conference men's tennis championships in Boise Idaho May 6,7, and 8. Weber states men's team dominated the field winning their toughest competition the first day. They beat Boise State 7-2 and Idaho State 9-0. The 3 pm match Friday against ISU was delayed four hours due to rain forcing them to start at 7 pm. They finished their grueling first day of competition at midnight with two victories. The second day of competition WSC started off playing Nevada Reno. With two victories already under their belt they came into the competition relaxed. Nevada Reno put up a fight but Weber Stated added another victory to their score with a 6-3 win "We are looking pretty good. We played our first toughest teams and beat them," Coach Keith Cox stated after three victories, "There is a good chance they could be conferance champions for the sixth easliy beat Northern yesterday's competition, year in a row." Arizona Saturday night For more results see WSC went on to and were 4-0 going into Wednesday's Signpost. r - p -..", i 'VWt ,1 -e-&4 ' ' t ! '..MU44- V i - LINDSAY RAWSTORNE follows through after returning the ball in a recent match at the WSC Edmun Courts. Rawstorne has helped his team close in on a sixth consecutive Big Sky Conference Men's Tennis Championship. (Signpost photo: Larry Jensen) Frenchman comes from afar to compete Karen Packham Staff Reporter Have you ever wondered why a Frenchman is in Ogdcn, Utah? -N Lindsay Rawstorne may bring a little cultural refinement from the land afar, but the real reason he is here is to compete on the Weber State tennis team and gain an education in business. Rawstorne is a 6'1", 170-pound freshman from Cap d'Agde, France. With both parents being tennis pros, Rawstorne was introduced to the world of tennis at the age of three. "He (Rawstorne) is number one in skill, which creates an aura ui'iuiJ hi" . TV"7!? ' k vn 'o him and think he is unbeatable," said Tennis Coach Keith Cox! Rawstome came to Weber in the fall of 19?" "d now plays number one singles and number one doubles with Bradley Ferreira. Rawstorne icccivcd the Rookie of the Region award and was also ranked number one in the region in doubles with partner Ferreira. (see AFAR on page 11 |