By John McCallum
Managing Editor 

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Cheney council unanimously passes resolution supporting EWU athletics remaining in NCAA Division I and Big Sky Conference

 

Last updated 5/7/2021 at 9:55am



CHENEY — City Council members hope they have sent a strong message to Eastern Washington University interim president David May and the Board of Trustees that when it comes to the pending decision on the status of athletics, the council is 100 % in support of remaining in Division 1 and the Big Sky Conference.

So much so that at least on council member wished to confirm the vote tally of resolution E-911 at the April 27 meeting.

“Can I confirm that was unanimous so we can say that it was a unanimous decision?” Councilwoman Teresa Overhauser asked Mayor Chris Grover, a question Grover confirmed in the affirmative.

The university is faced with tightening financial conditions, with athletics itself looking at a $5.5 million accumulated budget deficit, according to a study by the PICTOR Group delivered to the board in March. Both academics and athletics are undergoing reviews, with academics facing a reorganization and athletics several possibilities, including dropping football and dropping down in classification.

“Eastern is at a cross roads,” City Administrator Mark Schuller said in introducing the resolution. “The decision they make based on what level or whether to keep athletics altogether has major implications for not only the university but the community as well.”

The resolution points out many Cheney businesses rely on revenue from not only Eastern students but their parents, family and alumni — especially when visiting the city for athletic events. The resolution also notes athletics creates awareness of the university and that awareness can lead to increased enrollment, something officials have admitted is difficult to quantify, and a more diverse student population.

“Those fans come to town to watch that Division 1 level of competition,” Schuller said. “And those fans, and those students, and their parents and the alums spend money in our local businesses. There’s an economic impact there.”

“Everybody knows it’s a university town, and the university impacts the city,” Councilman Ryan Gaard, who works in EWU’s marketing department, said in agreement. “I don’t think there’s anyone out there who wouldn’t agree that there definitely would be an impact, and it would obviously be, for most people, a negative impact.”

The resolution also notes athletic scholarships create opportunities for first-generation college students in families that wouldn’t historically be able to afford college — something the university has prided itself on as being a leader among higher education institutions in the state. The resolution also noted EWU athletes often volunteer within the community at events such as Cheney Clean Sweep and in local schools.

Schuller added that maintaining a strong athletic program would show to state legislators that EWU is a stable, long-term educator of students in the region.

The resolution also notes that Eastern athletics administrators “must commit to strategic campaigns and initiatives by raising the level of fundraising and reducing reliance on state funding required to accomplish the academic mission of the university.”

Councilman Paul Schmidt said he believes the evaluation of EWU athletics stems from a “temporary” financial situation that most universities are experiencing around the nation.

“It’s temporary, we just need to figure out a better way to fix that,” Schmidt said. “To regress to a lower athletic designation to me is semi-permanent. When you tear something down, it’s really difficult to bring it back.”

In the PICTOR Group’s presentation, they noted that revenue-sharing opportunities and exposure are diminished for schools in these classifications, making athletic departments still very reliant on university support, albeit at much lower levels. Schmidt added that even dropping down to a lower classification would be a “huge economic factor for the community.”

“To just overlook that because of a temporary financial situation is shortsighted,” Schmidt said of the financial impacts to Cheney.

With the council voting 7-0 in support, Schuller said the city would forward the resolution to May and the Board of Trustees. May is slated to present recommendations to the board on not only athletics but the reorganization process at a meeting later this month, with the board looking at taking up the recommendations at a meeting in June.

John McCallum can be reached at jmac@cheneyfreepress.com.

Author Bio

John McCallum, Retired editor

John McCallum is an award-winning journalist who retired from Cheney Free Press after more than 20 years. He received 10 Washington Newspaper Publisher Association awards for journalism and photography, including first place awards for Best Investigative, Best News and back-to-back awards in Best Breaking News categories.

 

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