Daily Egyptian Politics Editor

The Graduate and Professional Student Council solidified its stance opposing a proposed athletic fee increase Wednesday.

The council voted 26-9 against recalling a resolution it passed in January that opposes any increase in the student athletic fee and chastises SIUC Chancellor Donald Beggs for not conducting a campus-wide constituency input study.

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The study was part of a compromise package developed in June. At that time, the Intercollegiate Athletic Advisory Committee proposed an $80 four-year increase in the athletic fee.

In June, GPSC President Tim Hoerman and Undergraduate Student Government President Dave Vingren made a compromise with Beggs and SIU President Ted Sanders that included support of a $20 fee increase and the study.

However, the SIU Board of Trustees ignored the compromise and approved the $80 increase in its June meeting.

Since then, Beggs analyzed the Athletic Department’s budget and developed a plan in which the department must reduce its deficit quickly while minimizing a fee increase and providing full funding of scholarships for SIUC athletes.

Now, the Athletic Department is recommending a $60 four-year increase in place of the $80 increase.

With GPSC’s vote, the student voice now is split in its opinion on the athletic fee increase.

At USG’s meeting last week, the Senate voted against a resolution opposing a fee increase, indirectly supporting the $60 increase.

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Rob Taylor, a spokesman for a newly-formed group of student protestors, said the GPSC vote lended credence to his group’s angst over an athletic fee increase.

Students Organized Against the Athletic Fee Increase considers this a success, he said.

Beggs, who spoke to GPSC prior to the vote, said he was pleased with the calm meeting. At last week’s USG meeting, a group of about 70 protesters jeered at Beggs, Athletic Department Director Jim Hart and executive members of USG.

I think I’m treated fairly, and I think all of the students really made good points, he said. I thank them for giving me the opportunity.

Vingren said the student body’s split decision likely will not hinder approval of the fee increase.

Our job is to work within the board’s directive frame and follow through with board’s directive with least amount of fees poosible, he said.

Vingren said students can make a bigger difference in other academic areas.

I just got back from a meeting about changes in academic advisement, where we talked to about 15 members of ROTC, he said. This sort of meeting will have so much more of a real effect on the student body than anything the BOT will give us in response to our opposition on the athletic fee.