Sunday, August 01, 2010

UH adopts student athletic fee

Despite what one student decried as "being forced to pay for a steak and champagne dinner and ... getting, maybe, the after-dinner mints," the University of Hawaii Board of Regents overwhelmingly adopted a mandatory athletic fee yesterday as an investment in its financially challenged sports program.

After nearly 2 1/2 hours of often passionate public testimony, presentations and discussion, the Board of Regents voted 11-3 to approve a mandatory $50-per-semester fee for all full- and part-time Manoa students beginning the spring 2011 semester.

The fee is calculated to raise nearly $2 million, about $1.85 million of which will be kept by the athletic department to help fund scholarships and pay for equipment and materials. UH said the money will not be used for coaching or administrative salaries.

In return, students will receive free admission to athletic events, including up to 5,000 seats for home football games, transportation to Aloha Stadium and a say in the use of 5 percent to 8 percent of the fees to "enhance the student experience."

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