Fee Hike Underpins Plan To Keep Sports An increase in student fees allocated to intercollegiate athletics has paved the way for Iowa State to retain all 19 current varsity sports, as well as add a women's soccer program this fall. President Martin Jischke recently unveiled a plan that combines increased student fees and other revenues with cost- reduction measures to address budget problems in the athletics department. The plan will be submitted for approval to the State Board of Regents. The student fee increase, $5 per semester per student, recently approved by the Government of the Student Body, will generate a total of $250,000 in FY96. Another $5 increase is to be approved for FY97, bringing the total increase to $500,000. Late last year, university officials raised the possibility of dropping sports to balance the athletic department budget. While officials didn't indicate what sports might be cut, speculation centered on baseball, tennis, gymnastics and men's swimming and golf. In a December meeting with student-athletes, Jischke told students that those reviewing the athletic department deficit had not found a way to close the budget gap without dropping sports. Three months later, students and university officials believe they may have found a way. Jischke said in addition to the increase in student fees, the sports will be funded through a combination of other additional resources and cost-reduction measures. Those include: --Additional revenue from the Big Eight/Big 12 television package. --Additional NCAA funds. (The NCAA distributes funds based on the number of overall scholarships offered.) --Management controls and cost reductions in the athletic department. --A $5 million endowment for student-athlete scholarships that is expected to be raised as part of the President's Scholarship Campaign. The endowment would provide $250,000 annually in scholarship aid to student-athletes. "I want to commend the students and student leaders, especially GSB President Margaret Pitiris, for their handling of this matter, and for their recognition of the important role that a broad-based program of intercollegiate athletics plays in a university," Jischke said. "It's important to note, however, that two key parts of this plan have yet to be realized. First, we must have a turnaround in football attendance and receipts, and, second, we must raise the scholarship endowment money," he said. Jischke added he is confident that both will happen. _____ contact: News Service, (515) 294-3720 updated: 4-6-95