Students vote against UTEP athletic fee

A proposal that would have instated a new fee for UTEP students that would have given money to the Athletic Department was denied Thursday in a vote by UTEP students. 

Students voted for two days on the measure, which ran on a ballot along with Student Government Association elections.

The proposal would have increased student fees by up to $240 a year starting in fall 2011 and up to $360 more by fall 2013. It would have given the UTEP Athletic Department about $5 million in its first year and $7 million by fall 2013.

The athletic fee's failure surely puts a crimp in UTEP's budget. Easily, an extra $5 million would have helped all of the school's athletic programs. But students clearly felt it was not their responsibility to come up with this money. And it's hard to blame them. 

The onus should fall with fans, whether they are alumni or not. The de facto rallying cry for many fans on message boards and forums has become: Turn off the radio and buy a ticket. If you like what you see, buy a season ticket. If you like what you see, kick in a donation. If you can't donate, tell your fellow fan to. UTEP supporters say it takes more than angry posts on the Web to make these teams better. They tell us there are far too many folks who demand more from the Miners every time things go south for their sports teams without stepping up to the plate themselves.

And now, with the loss of this athletic fee, UTEP is left with a big bat to swing.

Comments

[TG]

Typical small town mentality. Typical El Paso attitude: "Why should I pay?" "I want everything for free!" UTEP should have Juarez students and pay out of state tuition.

[Rob]

This reflects poorly on the students of UTEP and they should be ashamed of themselves. $120-$180 per semester. You're not willing to pay that to keep coaches?

The bottom line is big-time schools make big-time money from their basketball and football teams. Not from the track team. Not from the rifle team. And sure as heck not from chess and debate teams. Ever seen a 100,000 fans packed in for the big debate at the Rose Bowl? Nationally televised chess tournament anyone? Anyone know the name of a coach in the National Debate Team Hall of Fame?

The "onus", as Padilla put it, does not fall on the fans, it falls on the students. More than anyone else they should support their school. How many UTEP students took advantage of their student tickets? Take a look at the student sections of other "big-time" schools? Where are the UTEP students? Anybody want a ticket to a UTEP game? Hint: Ask a UTEP student for theirs because they aren't going. I know this goes on for a fact.

Maybe I shouldn't be surprised then that the students voted this down. It was probably voted down by the chess and debate teams. There are fans in El Paso that never finished high school and they are attending UTEP games. If the UTEP students don't care about UTEP athletics, what does that say to those loyal fans?

[Joe]

Rob,

I was a student at UT during the early 90's. Back then we bought season tickets and went to the football and BB games fairly religously. Now my nephew goes to UT and in his three years at the university he has yet been able to see a football game because the tickets are priced beyond their means. Students like me supported the Horns when they were not that good and now only rich "alumni" can actually afford to see the games. So please don't tell me about a "student's" responsability. UTEP is the towns team. If fans showed up to the games, win or lose, these type of measures would not be necessary.

[Lorenzo]

Rob, how is the it more the students' responsibility to pay for coaches salaries than it is the fans'. I understand football and basketball bring in a lot of money for the school, but these are students who oftentimes do not have an extra 300 bucks a year to be throwing at already wealthy coaches. The typical student at UTEP is not the typical student at any other university. Many of the students I go to school with ARE from Juarez, and they're some of the hardest working students on campus but they do not care about UTEP athletics and I don't blame them. They're there to earn degrees that will transform their lives and open up a new world of opportunities. I care about UTEP athletics as much if not more than the next guy.

I am one of the students who sits in the student section every game, and although I would like to see our student section filled every time, I understand the demographics and mindsets of UTEP students. Some people just have bigger things to deal with than supporting a sports team and I'm ok with that. Some people just aren't sports fans. So why should they be forced to pay 300 bucks a year for something they don't need and have no interest in? If YOU like UTEP athletics, then YOU the fan should pay to make UTEP athletics better. Buy season tickets and become a donor.

[David]

Rob, please. Your not the one paying the $240 and $360 increase. I don't go to school to pay for some stupid college football or basketball. I support the team by going to games and actually paying for my ticket and not taking a free student ticket. I support my team by buying merchandise which is a complete rip at any UTEP location but I still do it.

So don't come here and say students be ashamed. I would gladly say no football or basketball at UTEP if it means a better education. I'm in school to learn Rob, not to pay for a coach to be hired to lose every season...

The UTEP students spoke and they agree, we don't want to pay anymore especially when tuition is already going up every year.

[randy]

well to my fellow utep students, all I have to say is.... PATHETIC!!! Please immediately stop your bitching about how El Paso has nothing to do.

[Mike]

Randy, I'll gladly vote yes if you pay for my increase :) How about it, want to pay $480 then $720... dude...

You realize that after Basketball there is nothing in-between until football again? So yeah there are people who say there is nothing to do in El Paso, but who the heck said that if there was it has to be UTEP sports?

Maybe you like some players at UTEP need to keep your heads in the books more rather then come here on the forums with no idea on costs and consequences on people who are trying to get an education and not buyers remorse from shelling out cash to a football game only to watch them LOSE!

[ac]

The one who said he didn't want to spend more money to wathc the team loose doesn't get it. The more money would increase the likelihood that the teams would be more consistant at winning. I will tell you what the UTEP students missed and as some indicated, seeing as how many are from Mexico, perhaps the culture difference is an issue as well. I was in Ohio last week on a business trip and when I turned on the radio the sports announcers were talking about some recruit and UTEP was mentioned in the same sentence as U. of Michigan, Ohio State, and others. Then two days later, while I was going through the airport wearing my UTEP T-shirt, a man stopped me and said didn't UTEP hire some coach recently? I said yes, coach Floyd and he continued that UTEP will win big with him, it was a good hire. Similar things have happened in other parts of the country I have traveled concerning Price and the football team.

What the students do not understand is that these sports teams are a kind of advertisement for the school. They get the name of the school out there. Case in point, I knew nothing about UTEP until I happened to see a story about the football team mentioned on ESPN. Years later, when I was looking for schools to go to for a Masters, UTEP was on my list and it worked out for me to go there. However, it wouldn't have been if it wasn't for that time I saw a story about their athletic program. I believe it was about the Sun Bowl being expanded and then there was another one about a football game they played.

The point is that it would have helped to get the name out more, which would increase the school's name recognition a bit more around the country. Yes, I agree academics are more important and UTEP is doing a great job, but every little bit helps. Finally, I believe El Paso needs to do a better job of supporting the team. UTEP beat the #12 team in the country this year and no one showed up against Tulsa and it was on national TV. UTEP won that game too, but where were the fans and most importantly where were the students? It was very disturbing to see. Perhaps ticket prices should be increased, but then the students and fans would complain about that. So, the question is what is UTEP to do. The tickets are already among the cheapest in the country, which are cheating the athletic program as it is.

Also, I will tell you, academics alone will not cut it either. There are very few schools that are solely known for their academics, but now if you ask people about one of them, people around the country will go, who? So, you need both invested in. You can't go completely one way, or the other, you need both.

[andrew]

Rob, these students are stupid and clueless. That's why el paso is the way it is, sea world in the early 80s is a good example. County did not want to raise taxes and give "free land" to sea world..look at what sea world did to SA..brought HUNDREDs of millions of dollars and jobs...STUDENTS FYI...more money to the athletic program the better facilities better coahces you can get,...oh and guess what..if utep does really well in tourneys, championships, etc...gues what?? THATS PROFIT!!! $$$$$$$ not to just athletic programs..but extra profit to better faculty, facilities, recruitment, etc...takes money to make money..stupid students need to take a class on economics again and how it works..

[just a thought]

Here are some ridiculous and not-so ridiculous thoughts.

1) Someone brought up Juarez student culture. People from Mexico just aren't into American football -- mediocre football at that.

2) UTEP students are commuter students with lives outside of the University. Not so at other schools where school is life.

3) Ft. Bliss has tons of 18-24 year olds interested in ONLY their hometown University football/basketball team or UFC fights.

4) UTEP students are mostly El Pasoans and El Pasoans have children earlier than other cities. Children over games.

5) If UTEP existed on the East Side of town attendance at games would increase. More space, more people and Westsiders would make that drive regardless.

6) El Pasoans are big into the nightlife and club scene. They prefer spending their time and money there on the weekends.

7) El Pasoans have huge "get-togethers" on the weekends with multiple family members. Many times that occasion does not include UTEP.

8) El Pasoans often hear that El Paso is not the place to be. I know dozens of people with expendable cashflow that use it to get out of town and frequently. Hard to go to games that way.

9) There is an underlying dislike of UTEP athletes in this city (the headlines don't help). Some feel athletes are selfish, privileged, and there is a huge disconnect.

10) UTEP is not associated with the Dallas Cowboys or Pittsburgh Steelers.

[Bill]

I guess El Paso will always be "small town" until it's citizens start thinking big. This "poor me" attitude has crippled all aspects of growth potential. It seems as if most folks are waiting for someone else to do it rather than seeking a way up.

[Robert]

Can I have a show of hands of everyone who has already posted on this board - How many of you have your football and basketball season tickets for next year?

Me - I'm on the 45 yard line for football, and am looking at the basketball packages now to support our teams.

I assume with all of the complaining on this board that each and every one of you have already done the same or better???

If not, well....

[miner fan]

I agree with TG. Juarez students should pay out of state tuition. A good friend of mine from India had too. Why shouldn't someone who doesn't even live in the US?? If students and fans worked together to get the job done, then we could possibly all help UTEP athletics. Stop pointing the finger and let's get something done! The athletics fee was $10 a semester credit. What about starting out at about $5 a semester credit??? Go Miners!

[randy]

Mike, NMSU is right down the road. UTEP needs to stop the open enrollment policy, we need to get rid of the many undeserving students whom attend this university. Only someone from El Paso would complain about a $240 tuition increase at one of the cheapest universities in the nation. As far as paying for YOUR tuition increase, that is sad, but expected from many of the people who have grown up in this culture. Your thought process is what has kept our city in the position it is!

[randy]

robert, not only am I a student at utep, but I also have the family pack for both football and basketball.

[Ryan G]

Voting this down is very indicative of the attitude and mentality of the culture of EL Paso and UTEP. Most people in El Paso, for some odd reason, are anti-progress. Why on earth would you not want to pay a little more to have something of quality here at UTEP?! This mentality of anti-progress is baffling to me.

Sorry to say, but with this attitude, there will be ZERO progress seen on this campus. It's sad because outside of El Paso, UTEP is seen as a school with an uber amount of potential. Unfortunately, with attitudes like this, the potentialwill be untapped.

I am a PROUD UTEP alumni and were I still a student, I would have voted yes a million times

[joe fan]

Wow, the students chose not to raise their own fees! Imagine that!!!!!! Well, part of the problem is:

1) Our main team is not very competitive. Men's football. Yeah, men's basketball did well, and the fans came out, AFTER the team started winning. (Bandwagon fans, y'know who u are!) Football is a desmadre, three losing seasons in a row.

2) A lot of students have student-athletes as classmates. They see firsthand the preferential treatment athletes get from the professors. I can recall a few years back I had a football player in one of my sociology classes. To make matters worse, we had to do group work, and this guy hardly ever showed up impacting our performance, as everyone else had to step up to cover his absence.

Well, through some sources, I learned that football player got a C for the course. Showed up to class maybe ten times in an entire semester, and got a C. And I don’t want to hear that he probably turned in work directly to the professor. This was a spring semester, in which the team only has to work out in the weight room and some spring practices. No season, no games.
I can’t blame the kids for not wishing to pay extra fees. It is up to the Athletic department to go out and get funding from private sources, and not depend on the students for financial support in terms of fees.

There is enough money in this town, so to Stull and Wickstrom, go out and GET IT.

[Manny T]

You know what screw the free student tickets these students receive for games. CHARGE THEM REGULAR PRICES LIKE NON-STDENTS AS THEY DO IN UT-AUSTIN!!!!!

[nike air max LTD women]

What the students do not understand is that these sports teams are a kind of advertisement for the school. They get the name of the school out there. Case in point, I knew nothing about UTEP until I happened to see a story about the football team mentioned on ESPN. Years later, when I was looking for schools to go to for a Masters, UTEP was on my list and it worked out for me to go there. However, it wouldn't have been if it wasn't for that time I saw a story about their athletic program. I believe it was about the Sun Bowl being expanded and then there was another one about a football game they played.