UVa‘s Board of Visitors has approved a tuition hike of $76, $50 of which is to support their sports program. Tuition will continue to go up by $50 per year until the sports program breaks even. UVa reports that, by 2010, the athletics department will be $47M in the hole. This, despite that UVa’s Capital Campaign, which ended just last month, raised an incredible $159M. Previously, millions were raised for the sports program, notably Carl Smith’s $25M donation. 21.4% of student activities fees goes to athletics. Is it possible that UVa is only planning to spend a small amount of their endowment fund on sports? [Note: This story has been updated. Read on to see the changes.]
News and meta-news about Charlottesville, VA, since 2001.
Sideblog
Police announced this afternoon that their investigation into what was initially believed to be a fatal fire on Rugby Avenue is now a homicide investigation. #
The Virginia Supreme Court has denied George Huguely’s appeal. His second-degree murder conviction will stand, WRIC reports. #
In a carefully worded story, and not citing specific sources, WTVR reports that forensic evidence belonging to Jesse Matthew Jr., the main suspect in the disappearance of Hannah Graham, matches forensic evidence collected during the investigation of Morgan Harrington’s 2009 murder. #
In the wake of Hannah Graham’s disappearance, and the evidence that came from private security footage, city officials are revisiting the question of installing security cameras on the downtown mall. #
Both Charlottesville Registrar Sheri Iachetta and former Electoral Board member Stephanie Commander have turned themselves in to the police on
foursix and four felony counts of embezzlement, respectively. #Ten years ago, the National Institutes of Health budget doubled and schools like the University of Virginia built massive new research facilities. A decade later, those buildings remain largely underutilized. NPR visits UVA in this story on the effect of federal binge and spurge spending in the sciences. #
In 2012, Council approved a new student housing complex on West Main—now some council members are questioning whether what they were shown matches what was built. #
The Architectural Review Board has approved a bike-themed mural on West Market, below the McGuffey Art Center, although at least one member expressed concerns that it might look like the bicyclists were riding away from Charlottesville’s downtown. #
City Police Chief Tim Longo is meeting with city leaders to work on protocols regarding the use of military surplus police weapons in Charlottesville. #
A 100-year-old Colonnades resident received military honors for her service in the WWII Women’s Army Corps #
-
Archive for Sideblog »
The 21.4% amount nearly freaked me out. However, if you read it, that’s 21.4% of the student activities fees (around $1100, I think).
So if you translate that $240 into admissions (mostly free) to the sporting events, you’d only have to go to 24 events before it pays for itself. Still extravagant, but not nearly as bad.
You’re correct, of course. I’ve updated the story to reflect that. My apologies for my oversight of this crucial detail. Thanks!
I’m so glad to have been corrected. In print, you would have had to write a letter, which the publication may or may not have run, and they may or may not have run a correction. On cvillenews.com, OTOH, you can simply post and say “uhhh…you’re wrong.” Yay, the system works. :)
Waldo
Fact checking is only one benefit. If it hadn’t been for this site, I never even would have noticed that!
And to bring it back to the topic at hand. Sports should be self-sufficient–I would like to see the financials for the football and basketball team (who should be bringing in revenue/sponsorship).
They stated that the operating costs were beginning to operate with a deficient budget. I’m also in favor of using some of those VSAF funds that get me kicked out of my parking spot for that, instead of just more scholarships. But I’m not angry, really.