$200: the final straw for this Gopher alum & lifelong fan

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Section 100 said:
www.startribune.com

In order to stay competitve in college athletics, the U has a plan; students paying students

Despite Twin Cities campus students being charged $200 a year, the U still faces a $9 million athletic budget deficit.
www.startribune.com www.startribune.com

This is it. Students have to pay student-athletes. We have a senior at the U; she has to pay $200 to her classmates this year? Fuck that.

I'm not giving another dime to the U.
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$200 is a dinner for four at a moderately priced restaurant. Lighten up, Francis.
 

Gopherchase said:
$200 is a dinner for four at a moderately priced restaurant. Lighten up, Francis.
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I go to dinner for 5 for under $100.
The problem with the whole $200 charge is not whether a person can pay it. The problem is that the vast majority of students would like to spend their money on themselves and their well-being, not on an athlete who may not even care about his or her education. In addition, the student may never care about any sporting event. They do care, however, about the course they are taking and the books they need to purchase for that course.
Contrary to what many at the Gopherhole may think, sports is a minor and insignificant part of most students life at UMN. This mandatory fee is an equivalent example by the University of forcing non-athletes to give money to a kegger when a student doesn't even drink and only athletes are invited. Sure the person putting on the kegger likes it, but the non-drinker has been forced to support something they don't support. The lack of fairness on this issue is amazing. I support any student who protests this fee.
 



Maybe they should call this a marketing fee? It enhances the national visibility of the university so it's a POTENTIAL benefit to all students. I've pursued and gotten MULTIPLE jobs out of this state including on Wall Street and feel like going to the U of M made a difference. People doing the hiring aren't all super qualified, but they see you went to a Big Ten school and that probably matters to some of them vs. say Mankato State. It helped me bond with my co-workers from other states that also went to large schools just like the Vikings and Twins did when they were Giants or Yankees fans. It helps people think less about Minnesota as just flyover country.

I have two kids. One is going to the U in a program where I think that matters, another is going to a community college at a fraction of the cost and I think that's perfect for him. I'm confident both will do fine in life. Having a nationally recognized and relevant school in this state matters. That costs more. I'd rather they stick that $200 fee on the students than on the average Minnesota tax payer...although that happens too. As one poster said, students and future students can vote with their feet. If they don't see how all the extra expense at the U will help them accomplish their goals, they can go to someplace like Mankato State and get the same degree (or even better degree in some fields) at a fraction of the cost.

Most of us are happy we are playing in the big leagues in a P2 conference. Teams like Washington State and Oregon State have been left out. I'm sure that has a negative impact on those universities and their ability, not only to compete for the best minds in their state, but nationally. How large that impact is, I do not know.

Again, I view this as a marketing expense. It is hard to quantify whether it is a worthwhile one so I have no problem with people that are upset about it.
 



MilosRevenge said:
Liberty University - the one founded by Jerry Falwell - charges students $350 per term.
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I'd expect fees like this at schools that don't receive tens of millions of dollars in TV revenue and sometimes sell out a 50,000 seat stadium and who won't be paying $20 million per year to select athletes.
 








swede2 said:
From whose pocket cometh out of?
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However that person is paying for college. Usually loans. The cost of in state tuition this year is ~18,600. That doesn't include room/board, supplies, etc.

That's ~74k for 4 years, double for out of state tuition. This is $800 over that same time for this. It's 1%.

How many other pointless fees and things students don't want to and shouldn't pay for are wrapped into these egregious tuitions? I'll bet a lot more than $800 over 4 years. This is a drop in the bucket.
 



WoodburyTim said:
Does seem odd that post after post on this site says that sports are generating an ungodly profit and then they need $200 a student to pay the players.
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I think the distinction is that football is generating a profit and covering the losses from the other programs...and currently it does not look like revenues will cover expenses this fiscal year.
 

GopherWeatherGuy said:
Sure it was. But since this is roped in with tuition it’s not like they are paying it out of pocket.
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They may be paying it out of their pocket. Every penny I paid for my education came out of my own pocket, not my parents. I worked a minimum of 20 hour weeks while doing 16 plus credits per semester. I would have resented paying another kids beer money while I worked just to try attend.
 

FinnGopher said:
They may be paying it out of their pocket. Every penny I paid for my education came out of my own pocket, not my parents. I worked a minimum of 20 hour weeks while doing 16 plus credits per semester. I would have resented paying another kids beer money while I worked just to try attend.
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Same. So are you saying you didn't finance any of it? No loans? I was able to cover most room/board just working but the rest had to be financed.

As I mentioned your tuition without this fee is likely paying for a lot more unnecessary garbage than just some kids beer money. It's why college tuition is out of control. But it's not $200 per year out of control, it's about 10k+ per year out of control.
 

GopherWeatherGuy said:
Same. So are you saying you didn't finance any of it? No loans? I was able to cover most room/board just working but the rest had to be financed.

As I mentioned your tuition without this fee is likely paying for a lot more unnecessary garbage than just some kids beer money. It's why college tuition is out of control. But it's not $200 per year out of control, it's about 10k+ per year out of control.
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I had to take out loans as well, but I never took the max. I always looked at total cost in connection with what I was earning and then took the minimal to cover. It was a very tight margin.
 

GopherWeatherGuy said:
However that person is paying for college. Usually loans. The cost of in state tuition this year is ~18,600. That doesn't include room/board, supplies, etc.

That's ~74k for 4 years, double for out of state tuition. This is $800 over that same time for this. It's 1%.

How many other pointless fees and things students don't want to and shouldn't pay for are wrapped into these egregious tuitions? I'll bet a lot more than $800 over 4 years. This is a drop in the bucket.
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From whose pocket cometh loan payments?

And I don't disagree that there is horrific bloat in higher ed. I've seen statistics that show that while academic faculty suites have remained relatively static, administration growth has been almost exponential, similar to to health care, where patient care is the equivalent to static academic programs while administration has grown. If we were in the OT forum, I'd point out the common link.

Back on topic, though. I guess I don't see rampant waste as an excuse to condone any fractional part of that waste.
 

"Pfft...$200 is nothing nowadays. It's just a tiny fraction of their tuition."
"Oh, honey, that reminds me, our property taxes just went up $200 this year."
"GODDAMMIT!...Bastards are always trying to take what they can!"
 


FinnGopher said:
They may be paying it out of their pocket. Every penny I paid for my education came out of my own pocket, not my parents. I worked a minimum of 20 hour weeks while doing 16 plus credits per semester. I would have resented paying another kids beer money while I worked just to try attend.
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I'm sure you walked barefoot uphill both ways as well.
 

GopherWeatherGuy said:
Same. So are you saying you didn't finance any of it? No loans? I was able to cover most room/board just working but the rest had to be financed.

As I mentioned your tuition without this fee is likely paying for a lot more unnecessary garbage than just some kids beer money. It's why college tuition is out of control. But it's not $200 per year out of control, it's about 10k+ per year out of control.
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It is out of control and this is a minor part of it, but I guess you need to start somewhere. It's likely not going away so may as well figure out a way to live with it. I like the idea of another poster where students get free season tickets, but I think that's unrealistic because you could be pushing out paying customers for students getting in for "free". I know it's not free because they paid the $200, but that's happening regardless.

How about a lottery for all students forced to pay the fee to get any empty seats on game day? Now, instead of just paying for some athlete's new car, you're paying them to entertain you. The tickets are freely transferable so if the student doesn't care for football, they can pass them along to someone who does either another student or family member? Or give them two tickets so they can bring their grumpy dad from this online forum to the game too! Or give them the option of attending another U sporting event instead. The football team is mostly footing the bill anyway! I consider this fee a marketing expense, but why not try to give students as much value as possible if you're going to force them to pay another fee? All it's costing the U is a little more cleanup and maintenance and, hey, some percent of them will buy a $10 hot dog while they are there too. As a result, you always have a full stadium which will improve the game day atmosphere and, at least marginally, increase the team's chances of winning. A winning team draws more PAYING fans. We can even start counting our consecutive sold out games like Nebraska! Technically, the students are paying for their seats even if it's forced.

Stealing again from another poster, some percentage of those students will turn into Gopher sports fans and become paying fans when they graduate enhancing the ROI on this new "marketing" program.
 
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Brueggers day old bagels. $1.05 for six. That was college in 1991. Kim sor in the dinkydome 2.99 for a meal. That was as good as it got.
 

I wonder how many posters out here who think PJ is underpaid also chimed in negatively on this and things like the seat fees, increases in the parking fees, and the cost of concessions...
 

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