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Athletics and other big-ticket groups will present requests during today's fee hearings

Cougar News Staff

The Athletics Department, the largest single recipient of non-designated student fees, will have its hearing before the Student Fees Advisory Committee this afternoon.

By convention, Athletics has received 35 percent of student fees since 1988, when the Students' Association negotiated an agreement with administrators stipulating that no group could receive more than 35 percent.

In recent years, the department has fielded criticism from SFAC members concerned with low student interest in campus sporting events and a deficit running more than $10 million. A student survey cited in SFAC's 2001-02 report indicated that 72 percent of students disagreed with using student fees to support Athletics.

Last year, however, SFAC commended Athletics for "the steps implemented to ensure greater fiscal responsibility and planning within this unit" and praised the answers Athletics Director Dave Maggard gave the committee. SFAC allocated about $3.19 million to the program for the current fiscal year.

In addition to Athletics, four of last year's highest-allocated groups will have their hearings today: Counseling and Psychological Services, University Career Services, the Center for Students with Disabilities and the Cougar Marching Band/Spirit Squad.

Today's hearing schedule is as follows, with all hearings taking place in the University Center's Bluebonnet Room:

• 8:45 a.m.: Committee business

• 9 a.m.: University Career Services
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• 9:45 a.m.: Veterans' Services

• 10:15 a.m.: Break

• 10:30 a.m.: Center for Students with Disabilities

• 11 a.m.: Counseling and Psychological Services

• 11:45 a.m.: Public comment

• Noon: Lunch

• 1 p.m.: Cougar Marching Band

• 1:30 p.m.: Spirit Squad

• 2 p.m.: Athletics

• 3 p.m.: Break

• 3:15 p.m.: Student Program Board

• 3:45 p.m.: Urban Experience (Center for Mexican-American Studies)

• 4:15 p.m.: Adjournment

All the hearings are open to the public, but public comment is allowed only during the period beginning at 11:45 a.m.

SFAC hearings will continue Tuesday and wrap up Friday.
 

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