This is part of our Cardinal Way project on promoting civil discussions.
The Virginia Tech Board of Visitors holds a special meeting today to act on a proposal to increase spending on intercollegiate athletics as a way to keep the school’s teams competitive in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Part of that proposal involves increasing mandatory student fees for athletics by $100 a year over the next three years, from $732 now to $1,032 by 2029.
We asked readers to weigh in. Here’s a representative sample of what some of them had to say.
Is it acceptable for state-supported colleges to charge a mandatory student fee for intercollegiate athletics on the grounds that such sports contribute to the overall college experience?
No. If the athletes were not being paid, maybe it would be OK; however, college athletics are simply lower level professional sports equivalent to minor-league sports teams. The Big Ten and the SEC are equivalent NFL triple AAA leagues in baseball. Therefore, they should be able to financially support themselves not ask for support from students.
Kenneth St Clair, Salem
I do not think that Virginia Tech can be criticized for raising mandatory fees to $1032.00 when the other universities in Virginia are charging significantly more in this area.
Robert Tilley, Salem
No, especially since most students aren’t even able to obtain tickets especially to football games at the same time, the athletes are provided free tuition, room & board, fees and are getting paid as well.
Jose Simon, Allisonia
Yes, student fees, when reasonable by comparative measures. Student athletes bring diversity to a student body as Honors Student Programs fund a limited number of enrolled students.
Richard J. Nagel Jr., Fairfax County
Students already pay a substantial athletic fees and the proposed increase for the coming school year is excessive!
Doug Howard, Lebanon
Other reader comments
[Intercollegiate athletics] are extremely important to the university and the local economy. I think that supporting professional athletics teams is somewhat contrary to the mission of the university. I also question the decision to greatly increase spending on professional athletics during a time when the federal and state government are reducing their investment in higher education. Nonetheless, the university is almost forced to proceed in this manner to remain in the “neighborhood” of its peer universities. That is an unfortunate reality. . . . I am a proud alumnus of Virginia Tech, and have been a supporter of the athletic program for decades. I ended my financial support a few years ago when the sports teams became more or less professional teams with huge roster turnover each year. I would love for Virginia Tech to be a leader by refusing to continue pouring resources into supporting professional sports teams, but I don’t think that is a realistic option. In my opinion the increase in mandatory student fees is an insignificant issue in the discussion of athletics and its role at the university. The larger question is how much further should educational institutions travel down this path which has nothing to do with the core mission of the university.
Robert Tilley, Salem
The current policies/environment with athletes being paid and being able to go to the highest bidder is going to destroy college athletics. We will end up with 5 or six teams in a couple of conferences that clobber everyone else and win everything.
Jose Simon, Allisonia
I think paid athletics should be separated from the academic side of college and university. Athletic programs with paid players and with athletic scholarships should stand on their own without contribution from the academic side of the college/university.
Frederick Reynolds, Lynchburg
Maybe they should have student fees to support STEM research, music, and the arts.
Felicia Etzkorn, Blacksburg