Women's sports funding kicked up a notch
Funding for non revenue and women's sports will increase by $1 million. The women's rowing team, especially, will enjoy the extra money thanks to the referendum, which passed with a 61 percent vote in the Student Senate elections Wednesday.
By Eric Jorgensen
Thursday, April 13th, 2006
Non revenue and women’s sports got the budget boost they were hoping for after University of Kansas voters passed referendum no. 2, a $20 per semester fee raise from full-time University students. The referendum passed with a 61 percent vote.
There is also a $10 fee raise for the summer semester. According to the Athletics Department, the fee increase would mean an extra $1 million, which would be devoted solely to non-revenue and women’s sports.
The big winner with the referendum is the women’s rowing team. Currently, the team houses its equipment in a fenced area, nicknamed “The Cage.” One of the first things this new money will go to is a boat house for the rowers.
“We’re ecstatic,” team captain Paige Phillips, Plano, Texas, senior said. “Everyone just jumped in the air. It is a relief that we did it. We worked so hard to do this.”
Phillips said the new facility would house the boats and equipment. It also will have a locker room and be home to club crew.
“We get to leave ‘The Cage’ and get our boat house,” Phillips said. “We’re going to get a locker room rather than a couple Porta Potties.”
Jim Marchiony, associate athletics director, said this was a big victory for non revenue and women’s sports. He said this was a long time in the making.
“It was a well-thought-out vote,” Marchiony said. “It was a vote of confidence for the non revenue sports and athletics department.”
Kristin Buehler, Kansas City, Mo. sophomore and volleyball player, said there was a lot of support and work done by revenue and non revenue athletes.
“We really had to bond together,” Buehler said. “I think it’s going to be a good deal. It’s going to help out a ton.”
Both Phillips and Marchiony said it was good to see student support for non-revenue and women’s sports. Buehler and Marchiony said the vote showed there was support for athletes not often in the limelight.
— Edited by Meghan Miller
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