Last May, students approved a tuition increase of $36 over the next five years to keep athletics at SF State. With the initial increase of $17, effective this fall, students have assumed sole financial responsibility of the athletic department.

“We couldn’t have done it without the students,” said Mike Simpson, athletics director, “They saved us, they absolutely saved us.”

This year, revenue from the fee provided athletics with a budget of $2.16 million. Athletics is projected to have a budget of $3.06 million by 2009.

“It was vital to have some type of governance,” said Associated Students Inc. (ASI) Leadership Development Coordinator Horace Montgomery. “Since the sports fee was now going to be paid by students only, there needed to be a committee that had some oversight of the money.”

The Student Athletics Advisory Board (SAAB) is in the process of being formed to address the concern.

According to Montgomery, SAAB will be produced from two subcommittees that will report directly to the Vice President of Student Affairs/Dean of Students Penny Saffold.

Gator Life, one of the committees, will consist of three student athletes appointed by the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), one representative from the Academic Senate and one representative from campus housing. Gator Life will focus on the needs of students and athletics, providing a forum to voice concerns and maintain the goals of the athletics department and the campus.

The other committee, Administrative Oversight Committee (AOC), will focus on operations, university policy and NCAA policy, making sure athletics is in compliance with leauge regulations. AOC will consist of two representatives from ASI, one from the Vice President of Finance, one from the Vice President of Student Affairs and one from the Athletics Department.
Oscar Edwards, ASI creative arts rep and a basketball team member was approved last Wednesday to be on SAAB. SAAC is looking for one more rep to appoint to the Gator Life Committee, according to Vice president of SAAC Scottie Hand.

Although the passing of the referendum and the formation of SAAB is a progressive step for athletics, the $2.16 million collected from student fees is just barely going to keep athletics afloat, according to Simpson.

“When we get here (2009-2010), we will be relatively the same as we were two years ago (prior to budget cuts),” said Simpson.