the world is your clam chowder. Page 6
VOLUME 45, ISSUE 35
WWW.UCSDGUARDIAN.ORG
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2012
e d i u G n o i t c e l E l a i Spec WHY VOTE?
F
rom today until March 9, students can vote on the future of athletics and $495 in student fee increases by logging onto TritonLink with username and password. The Guardian offers its special D-I election primer; for more information and full pro/con statements, go to the official A.S. Special Elections page at http://as.ucsd.edu/ica, the con page at reclaimucsd.wordpress.com and the pro side at advanceucsd.com.
Frequently Asked Questions How much do I already pay for athletics? All UCSD undergraduates currently pay a $359 annual — or $119.78 quarterly — Intercollegiate Athletics Fee. This money goes toward scholarships, coaches’ salaries, and benefits. If the referendum passes, how much additional money will I pay? Will everyone pay more? If the fee passes, undergraduates will pay an additional $495 annually — or $165 per quarter — for a total ICA fee of $854 per year. Students currently covered by financial aid will not pay the increased fees due to the proportion of the money that returns to student scholarships.
The results of the election — with millions of dollars at stake — will affect all students regardless of how many people vote. UCSD elections traditionally have low voter turnout, hovering around 20 percent. In 2007, a 55-percent voter turnout was enough to almost triple increase the then-$95 athletics fee.
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Kevin Quirolo public education Coalition of ucsd
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UCSD does not fit the changing profile of the average Division II institution. UCSD does fit the profile of the average Division I institution (academics, size, mission)”
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Football Feasibility Study March 2011
We see it as an investment. Seniors, juniors and sophomores would not have to pay right now. It’s an investment. In our last referendum, we voted in favor of RIMAC. Everyone is happy with the facility and now we would be putting the money in to something that would better the school as well.
If the referendum passes, will UCSD have a football team? No. The fee is solely to fund salaries and scholarship to move our existing sports to Division I. The 2011 Football Feasibility Study, See faq, page 3
GABI HERNANDEZ Triton Athletic Council Representative Junior women’s soccer player
CCAA — California College Athletics Association; UCSD’s Division II conference The Big West — West Coast D-I conference UCSD wants to gain entry into; currently includes UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC Riverside, UC Santa Barbara; University of Hawaii will join in 2012 and San Diego State in 2013 Title IX — a section of the 1972 Equal Opportunity in Education Act that mandates equal spending on men’s and women’s sports
pro
I would love for sports to advance to D-I, and they definitely deserve it, but this is a case of misplaced priorities at a time when student fees are rising. [...] The benefits, like name recognition and school spirit, are intangible, and the cost is too high for something that not every student would concretely benefit from.”
Terminology
• UCSD has already outgrown the Division II in enrollment, SAT scores and athletic ability • Students covered by financial aid will not pay fee increase • Increase recognition, school spirit, alumni donations and prestige
Return to aid — the 29 percent of each student fee that goes toward student scholarships Flutie effect — the assumption that increased athletic success will lead to increased name recognition, prestige and spending; a 2003 study of nine D-I conferences found that the Flutie effect might not be statistically viable
by the numbers
con • Hurts middle-class students who won’t receive more financial aid • 2003 study of nine D-I conferences found that Flutie effect (see “terminology”) is not real, and D-I basketball does not correlate with more alumni giving • Risky when student fees keep increasing
29
Number of national championships held by UCSD teams
$359
Current annual athletics fee
1370
UCSD’s 75th percentile SAT scores (math/ verbal)
$495
Total annual fee increase if referendum passes
1070
CCAA average 75th percentile SAT scores (math/ verbal)
$143.55
COMPARISONS
Amount (from $495) that would go to aid scholarships
1370 — UCSD’s 75th percentile SAT scores (math and verbal) 1216 — 75th percentile of Big West schools 1070 — 75th percentile SAT scores of other CCAA schools 4500 — average enrollment of CCAA schools 28,000 — approximate UCSD enrollment
14, 855
average CCAA enrollment (2008)
3
UCSD sports competing in D-I (men’s water polo, men’s volleyball, fencing)
28,000
UCSD enrollment (2008)
2000
2007
2008
Dec. 2010
march 2011 aug. 2011
april 2011
feb. 2012
sept. 2014
UCSD moves to from Division III to Division II
55 percent of students vote in special election to increase athletics fee from $95 annually to $329 annually
Then-A.S. Senator Utsav Gupta creates Football Feasibility Task Force to investigate possibility of creating a football team.
The Big West conference rejects UCSD
Athletics Department pays $28,000 for Athletics Feasibility Study, concludes that a football team is not feasible, but suggests move to Division I.
A.S. President Alyssa Wing’s Board the Wing slate — with football and Division I as key components of the campaign — sweeps campus elections.
Special Election, ends March 9
Referendum nullified (with no fees) if the Big West Conference does not accept UCSD by that time
sSPOKEN
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FORECAST
We are proud of what we have done up to this point, but now is the time that matters.”
Monday H 57 L 44
Tuesday H 58 L 42
NIGHT WATCH
Monday
Tuesday
Charity Elliott
UCSD Women’s Basketball Head Coach
Wednesday H 58 L 48
Thursday H 58 L 45
Wednesday Thursday
Four-year moratorium on moving to D-I is lifted; UCSD now eligible to advance.
GAS PER GALLON
SURF REPORT monday Height: 2-7 ft. Wind: 11-28 mph Water Temp: 59 F
Tuesday Height: 2-6 ft. Wind: 3-8 mph Water Temp: 59 F
Wednesday Height: 1-1.5 ft. Wind: 6-12 mph Water Temp: 59 F
Thursday Height: 2.5-3 ft. Wind: 2-10 mph Water Temp: 59 F
LOw
$4.07
Valero, South San Diego 2029 La Media Rd & Airway Rd HIGH
$4.69
Shell, Del Mar 3015 Del Mar Heights Rd near I-5
INSIDE Birdland..................................2 Lights and Sirens....................3 At Wit’s End............................4 Letters to the Editor................5 Travel Guide............................6 Sudoku...................................9 Sports...................................12