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On February 18th at
11:30 am, the Student
Society is holding an EGM
in the  Wintergarden
regarding the Athletics
Agreement. In February of
1997, the students voted in
favor (by referendum) of
collecting the Athletic Fee
of ten dollars per student
to support the growth of
varsity athletics here at
UNBC. Now our existing
varsity program may be in
jeopardy.

The problem arose when
few prospective junior var-
sity-to-be (JV) NUGSS
clubs expressed their con-
cern regarding the pro-
posed allocation structure
of the Athletic Fee. For the
year of 1999-2000, it is
proposed that 80% will be
used to fund the varsity
program (basketball), and
20% to fund JV program.
There are several points
that must be explained for
this seemingly unfair split.

First, our only existing
varsity program - basket-
ball - is in the application
process with the province's
largest and most competi-

tive league, _ British
Columbia Collegiate
Athletics Association.

Basketball was selected to
become UNBC's first varsi-
ty sport back in 1996 with
a specific aim to build a
foundation of varsity athlet-
ic program in this institu-
tion. If basketball is denied
its 80% funding, which is
just about the minimum
required to field a team
meeting all BCCAA crite-
ria, our team will most like-
ly be denied an entrance to
the league (not to mention
the loss of credibility
UNBC will suffer).
Second, our basketball
program is involved in
numerous fundraisers to
not only fund itself but for
the UNBC Athletics in gen-
eral (meaning future JV

teams). Operation Red
Nose in December was a
huge success and many
players stayed late into the
night, including Christmas
Day and New Year's Eve,
to support our varsity ath-
letics. Basketball is also
entrenched in the local
community through
Outreach Program, travel-
ling as far as Hixon to pro-
mote and teach the game
to the youth.

Third the 80/20 split was
not designed to jeopardize
the future of JV teams, but
rather to be used as a
training period before mov-
ing onto varsity. The split
was carefully designed so
that JV teams may gain
access to a share of
Athletic Fee but not solely
funded by it. As a Sports
and Clubs Director at
NUGSS, | have a serious
doubts about some clubs’
fundraising ability once
they move onto the JV

Varsity funding should be split

| am very interested in
the development of Varsity
and Junior Varsity sports

at UNBC. My concern,
however, stems from both
the proposed policy,

A member of the wolfpack breaks in but is
blocked at the last second. The wolfpack was
locked in a bitter battle in league competion
on Tuesday. photo by Jeremy Fung.

regarding the status of
teams, and the proposed
allocation of the funds.

The proposed policy indi-
cates that to apply for
Junior Varsity, the sport
must be a club under
NUGSS for one year. If
accepted they get placed
ona one year probation, to
become J.V. After probably
two years they can apply
to be Varsity. This policy is
being proposed by the
Athletic Funding
Committee, a committee
consisting of the woman's
basketball coach (Loralyn
Murdoch), the athletic
director (jim O'Meira), Two
NUGSS executives (one of
whom is a member of the
only varsity team), an ex-
director of NUGGS, and
another student.

Clearly, there is a conflict
of interest on this policy
making/fund _ allocating
committee. Under this pro-
posal, it will take three

ver The Edge Page 12

Program. JV/varsity teams
are not allowed to organize
a fundraiser involving alco-
hol in any way, which will
eliminate just about all
sources of income. not only
for sports clubs but the
entire NUGSS clubs in
general. Considering the
fact that not a single ath-
lete from NUGSS sports
clubs participated in the
community fundraiser such
as Operation Red Nose,
despite the open invitation,
a year or two in the JV pro-
gram will surely ease their
transitino from NUGSS
clubs to varsity.

| can discuss on this topic
forever, and you are sure
to hear more from me at
the EGM. But the question
you must ask yoursel fi
sthis: Do you want a varsi-
ty sports at UNBC? If your
idea of athletic program is
having five JV teams all
competing in a Prince
George city league, then

years for any team that is
not currently Varsity (all but
men's basketball) to be
recognized as Varsity. This
isn't where my problem
lies.

| am upset that the bud-
get is planned as 80-20,
Varsity-Junior Varsity
respectively.

That means, for three
years one team will recieve
80% ‘of the funds. | pro-
pose that a percentage
(perferably under half)
goes towards Varsity, and
the rest towards Junior
Varsity initially. As more
teams get recognized as
Varsity, the percentage
can increase up to a fixed
percent (say 75). This
would be a more equitable
solution than 80% of stu-
dent money being guaran-
teed to one team for a min-
imum of three years.

Laird McLean,
4th year B. Comm

Status change for Women's Centre and Over The Edge over-
whelmingly endorsed by students

Women's Centre
responded to the
change of status. With
regards to the atmos-
phere of the discussion,
Kirkland described it as

"hostile" and "angry".

These two organiza-
tions have been present
on campus since the
university opened.
Many students felt, as

. ..Continued from Page 1

can be seen by the
results of the vote, that
it is about time that the
funding of these two
organizations will have
to be continually justi-

fied with regards to
financial accountability
and the number of stu-
dents actually using
their services.

you should vote against
the 80/20 split at the EGM.
| wish that UNBC granted
$3 million dollars in athlet-
ic funding like UBC, so |
can have our entire
NUGSS sports clubs apply
for CIAU (national inter-
university league) tomor-
row; but in reality we are
faced with limited funding,
and building a competitive
varsity program is a work-
ing process. Just as the
babies first learn to crawl
before walking and eventu-
ally running, our basketball
program is about to take
an important first step in
what should be a long,
long journey for UNBC
Athletics.

Today our athletic pro-
gram has the financial sta-
bility to support only one
sport, and it is basketball.
But even if you dislike bas-
ketbail, or just simply dis-
agree with the split, voting
against the 80/20 split will

mipcem
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2224!

\

Kenan &
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Isths th ng

AY 96

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Februa 19, 1999° .

accomplish nothing but to
stunt the growth of our var-
sity program, which goes
against everything the
Athletic Fee stand for.

It is therefore my recom-
mendation as a Sports and
Clubs Director, and as a
varsity basketball player
who has seen this athletic
program grow since 1995,
to approve the proposed
80/20 split if you want to
see a successful varsity
program sooner than later.
As an athlete and an indi-
vidual, | do not tolerate
mediocrity, and nor should
you.

Mike Lau
NUGSS Sports and
Clubs Director

Pre-EGM discussion on
this subject will be held on
Feb 10 in 6-217 and 17 in
6-222 both at 1:30 pm

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