The Task Force on the Future of Athletics at SFSU wants the opinions of SF State students. I received an email from the SFSU Public Research Institute asking for my (SF State Student) participation in a survey sponsored by the task force, earlier this week. The task force is due to give its recommendation to SF State President, Robert Corrigan on whether to continue the athletics program during the fall semester.

I was happy to participate in this survey, but I am concerned about the future of athletics at SF State. It was encouraging that the task force was planning on including students in their recommendation. Since its inception last spring, the task force has been meeting to discuss different options for the athletics program, but oddly enough the task force does not include any athletes, coaches or the athletic director.

The student survey results will help the task force decide whether to continue the athletics program, according to the email I received. This survey is the best chance students, who are concerned about losing the athletics program, have to save it here at SF State.

Just the possibility of completely eliminating the athletics program is appalling. I would not have attended SF State if they didn’t have an athletics program; I want to be a sports writer. SF State would be slowly evolving into solely a liberal arts college.

Intercollegiate athletics provide students with the valuable opportunity to participate on a team, gain leadership skills, and provides the campus with a diverse student body and school spirit. SF State would be losing an important part of their community if athletics were eliminated.

This survey is a last chance for the SF State student body to send a message to Corrigan about the importance of the athletics program. The administration needs to hear from the students on this issue.

If you are an SF State student, who is concerned about the future of the athletics program, participate in this survey. It could be your only chance to have a voice in the decision to eliminate athletics. If you have not received the opportunity to take part in the survey and are enrolled at SF State, email the public research institute at pri@sfsu.edu