It was a full house as Panthers filled the A.I. Thomas building’s auditorium to discuss the proposal to increase the athletic fee Monday night.
There waited a small panel of head coaches to answer any questions students may have had.
As it stands, the current athletic fee per student is $10 per semester hour. With the increase, the fee will be raised to $12.60 per semester hour.
No student will pay more than $150 per semester with a cap set at that amount.
It was made clear that the money would not go toward a new stadium, but will be used for the recruiting process, athletic equipment, facilities, traveling, hotels and coaches’ salaries.
Anita Anderson, director of auxiliary support services, was the main speaker filling in for Fred Washington, head athletic director, who was absent due to military duty.
Anderson stressed to non student athletes that “it may not be a direct benefit to the students, but any time your school has a superb athletic program, your school receives positive recognition, and whenever that happens it benefits you.”
Teri Wilkerson, a junior education major, asked a question concerning the distribution of the money to the other sports seeing how the highest recipient of funds would be the football program.
Glenn White, head coach of the bowling team, assured students that when it comes to funding, each sport will receive all the necessary equipment and money to succeed.
Jay Bluford, a senior political science major, said, “I would like to see better weight lifting equipment in our facilities.”