San Diego State University’s Academic Senate is scheduled to discuss a resolution Tuesday that calls for the abolition of the school’s football program by the end of the Fall 2007 semester.
Steven Barbone, chair of SDSU’s philosophy department and sponsor of the resolution, claims the program runs a $3 million deficit every year and is a diversion from the school’s mission to educate students.
He said he hoped the resolution would “lift the veil of mystery” from the athletic departments budget.
“I think there’s a lot of faculty who believe that money is not handled well here,” he said.
Asked what he thought the resolution could accomplish, Barbone said he hoped it would raise important discussions, but doubted it would muster enough support to put an end to Aztec Football.
“I really would be quite shocked that such a resolution would pass and even if it did, I doubt [SDSU President Stephen Weber] would heed it,” he said. “He has shown himself to be unadvisable on these matters.”
I’m putting calls in to the school to see what they think about the proposal. SDSU’s University Senate meets at 2 p.m. tomorrow in Hepner Hall. The resolution is the last item on the agenda and Barbone said it is possible it would be rescheduled.