At a recent SGA meeting, John Hartwell, director of the ULM Athletics Department, proposed adding a new athletics fee to student accounts starting next fall. The fee is $10 per credit hour, costing the average student $120 to $180 each semester.
Hartwell said most of the funding would go toward building a new practice facility near the football stadium.
“It’d be used for football primarily, but every one of our student athletes would use it, and we’d have the opportunity for students across campus and other campus groups to use it, too,” Hartwell said.
Hartwell also explained that the funds would be used to purchase a four-sided Centerhung scoreboard for Fant-Ewing Coliseum and video boards for the baseball and volleyball fields.
Hartwell justified these purchases, citing ULM’s rivalry with LA Tech. He argued that LA Tech is joining the Sunbelt Conference, giving them more competition for new potential athletes.
Hartwell said La Tech “blows us away in facilities.” For an athlete in the region deciding which university to go to, the choice might be clear.
Additionally, Hartwell mentions that the ULM Athletics Department needs more funding. ULM has a lower budget than other universities in the Sun Belt Conference.
“It’s no mystery to most folks that our budget for ULM Athletics is like $29 million, which is the lowest in our football bowl subdivision of 134 schools,” he said. “We want to get something out there to help us grow our budget.”
During the meeting, some SGA members suggested how the fee might be adjusted to Hartwell.
Elizabeth Moon recommended gradually increasing the fee to $10 per credit hour. Each semester, the fee would increase incrementally by as little as $1-3.
Drake Prunty proposed capped fees at a certain point so that full-time students all pay the same amount.
Hartwell maintained that he is willing to work openly with SGA to determine how to implement the fee.
“I don’t take lightly at all that this is something we’re asking the students to do that will increase the cost of their attendance,” he said. “But I think you could also make the argument that a successful athletics program is a significant part of student life in general and your experience as a college student.”
The student body will vote on the proposal once SGA senators work with ULM Athletics to adjust the fee.
SGA Vice President Hannah Habisreitinger mentioned that the fee could appear on the ballot during Mardi Gras court elections in the spring.