Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Roles are reversed as Kansas Athletics cheers on academics with a $40 million donation to the University announced Sept. 2. This money is coming from a new seating expansion that is a profitable way to merge both aspects of the University. Kansas Athletics should be celebrated for its contribution.
The Athletics Department announced plans for an addition to Memorial Stadium; the seating expansion will be called The Gridiron Club. According to a University press release it will seat about 3,000 fans, and will be built atop the east side of the stadium.
Associate Athletics Director Jim Marchiony said this new seating section could raise funds for the department’s $40 million donation to the University for academics.
“We believe revenue derived from those seats will fund, at minimum, the construction and the donation to the University,” Marchiony said. “Kansas Athletics really wanted to do something that would help the University. This seemed like a perfect way to help athletics and the University as a whole.”
In a trying economy, this boost in funds can be used by the University to improve various programs or possibly dampen the effect of raising tuition rates. No plans have been finalized for the use of the donation, but the Athletics Department is clear about its desire for the University to decide how it is used.
“It’s not our intent to be involved in any way with how that money is spent,” he said.
This donation is an example of the camaraderie that should continue to exist between athletics and academics. Though this is hardly the first display of the partnership between athletics and academics, it is a relationship that needs student support.
Many students don’t realize the great amount of funding athletics gives to the University on an annual basis. Athletics funded approximately $9 million last year.
“Every time tuition goes up, our contribution goes up as well,” Marchiony said.
This annual contribution goes to tuition, room and board, books, fees, etc. Also, Kansas Athletics Inc.pays the University for any scholarships given to student athletes and has an ongoing partnership with the KU Cancer Center.
The relationship is “nothing new” according to Marchiony, but the donation of an extra $40 million was a way to give a nod to Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little.
“Athletics is a big fan of the chancellor and her vision of the future at KU,” Marchiony said. He called the donation “a good indication of our support for that vision.”
The Athletics Department should be applauded for its generosity. This donation will create a sense of unity within the University. Just as fans cheer on the Jayhawks, Kansas Athletics is reiterating its support for students.
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Editorial: Athletics shows support for academics with donation
About damn time. Maybe Lew is starting to realize that without Kansas University the basketball/football teams don't exist.
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