University of Nebraska Kearney - Blue and Gold Yearbook (Kearney, NE)

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Additional fee picks up slack by Keith Dilley The 1985-86 school year at KSC was $10 more expensive than previous years. An emergency fee charged to students enrolled in more than seven hours helped compensate for cuts in the athletic budget and the general insurance fund. The emergency fee came on the heels of a legislative bill which reduced state support of KSC’s athletics from $209,000 to $104,500 for the 1985-86 school year. Overall, the KSC budget was increased only 3 percent which was far below the 19 expected by the college administration. Vice President of Administration and Finance Earl Rademacher said the admin- istration had looked at other possible insurance programs, but the combination of rising costs and the time shortage left the college no time for such considerations. The fee, which will be for one year only, will be divided 60 percent for athletics, and 40 percent for insurance usage, according to Rademacher. Rather than cut programs, the admin- istration thought it would be better to make schedule reductions. The first Loper foot- Earl Rademacher ball game against East Central Oklahoma was eliminated which Coach Claire Boroff said would save the program $5,500. “We have a commitment to students coming here. If we say we are going to have a sport, when that student comes, we had better have it,” said A1 Zikmund, Kearney State’s athletic director. “It wouldn’t be fair to drop a sport.” Zikmund said that if KSC were to drop a sport with only a few members, such as golf, it would cost the school a substantial 8

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ON CAMPUS STUDENT FEES larger amount of money than cutting schedules; “For instance,” said Zikmund, “Ten students come here for that particular sport. They pay about $12,000 over their four years, not to mention the money they spend downtown and other places. I f we cut, that $ 12,000 would go to some other school that offers that sport.” Besides cutting the East Central Okla- homa game, there were reductions in other sports. A large cross country meet in Spearfish, S.D., was eliminated, as well as cuts in men's and women's basketball schedules. Baseball, softball and track schedules received similar cuts. “We have commitments to the confer- ence and our district and those will be kept,” Zikmund said. “I don’t think that $10 is that much to ask to save the sports programs,” said Norfolk junior Paul Schumaker. If every- one pays the $10 fee it won't be that bad.” “I don’t think they should cut sports,” said North Platte junior Dan Behn. “There are a lot of people who enjoy sports. They should cut something like concerts which aren't as popular as a football game, or some other sports events.” Along with the $10 emergency fee charged to students, the price of general admission tickets also rose. The prices were raised from S4 to $5 for adults, and $3 for children. Season tickets went up from $66 to $99. Student tickets stayed at $15 because of the $10 fee already charged. “We are already behind the times in ticket prices anyway,” Zikmund said. “If you go to a Nebraska game, it costs $15 to get in. If you go to other state colleges you pay at least $7 for admission.” Another way the blow is being light- ened is by fan, alumni and booster club support. “I was very pleased with the student turnout at the UNO game,” Zikmund said. “The students’ section was full and they really showed their support.” Zikmund also said he had been receiv- ing checks from alumni that were helping considerably. He said he received a check from one woman who graduated in 1929 to help the athletic program. “Everyone is rallying around our cause,” said Zikmund, “and we will beat this thing.” 9