I remember when I was a kid and reached the ceiling for the first time I thought I had reached a huge accomplishment. Many jumping attempts before that moment.
That's what is most disappointing.....Dr Savoie pulling the rug out from athletics funding just as we were gaining momentum and notoriety on a national level. 8 million is a sucker punch and incredibly shortsided.....makes absolutely no business sense to cut off the most important element that unites both the alumni base and community.
The fossil lives!!!!!
How much has been cut in services, academics? Any area outside of research. I believe we’re in a money crunch and battling hard for outside money as in research to offset loss of enrollment and funding. See it in filling positions and upkeep. But I don’t have data to support this. Just my opinion. I think athletics is in same bind.
My daughter in law became a faculty member this semester. She can attest that Academics is facing a money crunch as well. Entire university is feeling the pinch. That is in large part due to declining enrollment. Encouraging thing is the freshman enrollment this fall was up significantly. Does not offset the previous decline however. Dr. Maggard is dealing with fewer dollars simply because there are fewer dollars available. Dr. Savoie did not want to cut athletics. He had little choice. A new RCAF director will come on board soon (no clue who that will be). That should help the athletic situation. Private dollars are needed more than ever.
At the end of the day, academics should take precedent over athletics. I’m not saying I like it, and I’m not saying athletics isnt important, but academics should always be the focus of any university.
I don't know if UL has the ability to do this, but it would be interesting to see the age demographic over the last 25 years of donors, both athletics and academics. I have a feeling the donors are aging out and are not being replaced at the same rate, both actual donors and total giving. Again, not selling the brand, on both fronts.
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