This week, “The Outlook” published a story on the university’s athletic spending. In this week’s editorial, the editors of “The Outlook” discuss perceptions of academic spending and what we have heard from our fellow students. As a private university, Monmouth does not have to disclose its spending in any area.
When asked if the university should be transparent and open with its athletics spending, one editor said, “Yes, for the cost of tuition at Monmouth University, having knowledge of where that money is going is pretty important to me. The school makes it so secretive which leads many to wonder if there’s something being hidden.” Another said, “If the university administration is so upset with us for simply asking questions, I think that shows why students are so critical of athletics spending. The secrecy and closed-door policy on athletic spending is directly causing the suspicion by the students on the university’s spending in this area.” Another editor added, “Yeah, I don’t see a reason why it should be secret. If you’re not hiding anything, why is this so secretive and private?”
When asked about what editors have heard on athletics spending, one responded, “My professor told our class that the school paid for the basketball team’s bus driver to stay in the Four Seasons hotel. Are you kidding me?” Another responded, “Knowing student-athletes get unlimited meal swipes during each meal period yet other students not in athletics can only have one meal per period is outrageous. I support student-athletes, but this is ridiculous.” Another editor said, “Many faculty share their concerns with the athletic spending in our classes and to hear some of the numbers they present are pretty shocking.” A third said, “I feel like I don’t hear too much, but it’s always sort of a joke. Like when someone says ‘I wish I had this’ we always say ‘thank athletics.’”
The editors also commented on whether or not they think students view this as an issue. One replied, “Yeah, I think there’s a perception that athletics is this elite department that gets all this money while many part-time faculty and adjuncts make little compared to their colleagues. I heard from many students who saw the basketball team’s trip to Italy and the football team going to Butcher’s Block and felt like they were treated as second-tier being a regular student.” A second editor stated, “It absolutely is. I think if the administration spent time speaking with students, they would understand the perception that we are viewed as less than student-athletes. Many of my friends are student-athletes, and I support them fully and now the hard work they do. Still, it seems as if they are treated so much better than those of us participating in other groups and clubs. For many students, it seems the university focuses more on Bruce Springsteen and athletics than on academics and education.”
The general consensus among the editors was that if the university provided more transparency on athletic spending, there would be fewer rumors and less unanswered questions about the spending on athletics. “The Outlook” has heard from many students and faculty asking us to look into athletic spending and that story can be found on the front page of this week’s paper.
