Balsy

But if UA is looking to be transparent, than it does matter if they lower a fee to increase tuition cost. Because that would be disingenuous to the problem: that amount is too high. Students should be; and are completely justified in being upset about paying $800 a year to support athletics. At $800 a semester, students should be sitting in the club section of Infocision Stadium and the lower bowl chair backs of the JAR.

Yes it would. A semester costs roughly $4,309 according to UA's website. That's without the student fee. So roughly $4,900 (with other misc. fees) making the athletics portion roughly 8.1% of the cost to go to school. Drop in the bucket? That's huge. 8.1% the cost to go to school for the experience to sit in the JAR and a 3-33 football team. It's very easy to see why many students would get upset about this. I understand that, which is also why I'm curious to find out if the rec center is grouped under the same part of the budget or not. Don't get me wrong: I am not faulting UA and I don't have a problem with the fee. I'm trying to point out why UA students would be outraged by this, and we can't necessarily disagree with them. I'm an advocate for engaging current students in all conversations, being completely transparent 100% of the time with students and actually treating them like they and their opinions matter. Because those students are your future alumni. Treat them like they matter, they're more likely to return.

If the number is true...There are roughly 26000 students on UA's campus (graduate and undergraduate, both of which still pay student fees regardless of scholarships, assistant-ships etc). That's 26,000 x 400 = 10,400,000 x2 = 20,800,000 That's a really, really shocking number. A sold out Infocision Stadium (for a season) doesn't even grace half that. If you really want a reason as to why UA's athletic department, or care...or drive to improve doesn't exist, or hardly exist...that number right there would be it. This is of course assuming that 400 per semester is accurate.

It is when 428 is "student fees". And student fees are supposed to go towards student services...ie bussing, tutoring services, the rec center, counciling services, the student union (the list goes on...and on...and on). It also is a lot when student groups (which get their funding through a portion of the student fees) are constantly denied fees (regardless of their enrollment and student participation in events they hold) because there's not enough money going around...than yeah, students get a little upset about $400 going to something they don't particularly care to be a part of. Or at least be a part of for $400. When times are tough, cuts are usually made to the availability to student services. That's kinda why students would get a little upset. It is a lot of money Zippy5. Because it's additional money added onto tuition: That would be 400 a semester...800 a year...3200 if you graduate in 4 years. How about you take out a student loan and pay interest on 3200 so that Zips athletics can continue to suck. I mean, I support the Zips (and I'm lucky enough to have zero student loans), but I'm trying to be objective here. This is how most students will see that. And can you seriously blame them?

That's a great point. I'm not saying I have all the answers here. But if it is in fact true that $400/423 dollars (94%) it's outrageous. There may be nothing that can be done now, but that amount or percentage doesn't just happen over night. It's likely the outcome of decades of miss management and poor decision making. I have a feeling though (assuming the 94%, or $400 is accurate) that it isn't the whole story. I'd be willing to bet that the Recreation center would be grouped into that because the field house is run by athletics, and is attached to the same building...if that were the case the amount would still be a little less outrageous. Still high, just not as outrageous. Without any idea of what our athletic budget looks like, I can't really say what I'd slash.

Bottom line: we need a new arena. Now someone go win the megamillions and make it happen!

OT: Wouldn't it be cool if someone would make an Ohio, Buckeye State photo, with one letter of major teams replaced? Akron, Ohio U, State Ohio, Bowling Green, Toledo, Can't....That'd be a cool STATE graphic to have.

I approve of this. This was a frequent complaint of students before I went there, while I was there (including myself) and after I left. Students have the right to know. And if it is $400 per student as the report suggests, than it's absurd. Though I support UA athletics, many resources have not been updated...maintained...or made available to students over the years. Athletics is a good thing for all students to enjoy, but student fees IMO should largely support students in their day-to-day academic lives.

Today is #UAPrideDay. Make sure to wear your Zips stuff today everyone, wherever you are. If you have twitter, I'm challenging everyone to troll UA and President Scarborough for their support of State Ohio University. Go Zips!

There is no "solution" because there is no problem. The only ones with the problem are those who are being left out. Until there's a drive of a higher level of integrity in education (IE getting rid of the "we aint come to play school" types), than this problem will never be a problem. Really, until our culture decides that education is actually more important than entertainment, it'll never change.

Zach +1. One thing I will never understand is that UA has a school of Art...also has graphic designer students...why not give them the opportunity to develop a project or art piece for the university? This is the type of thing I've always hated about UA, or even universities in general. They outsource that which can easily be tapped on their own campus. There are many students, if given the opportunity to do so (and of course given approval) could probably come up with some very awesome and unique things. But like you said Zach, that gets ignored when all you have is resume-padders who don't care.

BuckZip, I don't actually care if he's "double dipping". I also don't care about the number of recruits in a class. I do care if they're prepared for college and if they're good athletes. These greyshirts indicate that they're taking care of business academically before coming to play at Akron. I will go ahead and attach an "updated" roster...I won't post a final updated one until after signing day. I'm feeling rather comfortable where we're at. The roster has been vastly overhauled from the Ianello years. One thing that stands out to me is there are not actually that many juniors on the roster, a lot of seniors (from transfers over the past three seasons) and freshman, of whom Bowden and co have all been going.

Sportsjunkie330: Even though there is a "student section" some students sit in other areas of the JAR. My friends and I did that all the time.

Responded several times on the FB post. Sent a letter to the AD. Responded to the tweet. Sent an email to assistant of the board of trustees. And thinking about sending in a letter-to-the-editor to The Buchtelite.

So is that one of the "grey shirts" that TB talks about often times? I don't know the rules on grey shirts but I know it says "Prep School" on his recruiting this year.

Grey shirt? I don't remember seeing him sign last year...

Any volunteers to write ZN.O letter to the editor at the Buchtelite. I'd be willing to write one myself...but it might mean more coming from an older Alumni.

^^^ What a joke. I hate people in charge of Akron.

Wasn't the buffalo crowd also the LBJ bobblehead night...that does play a roll in attendance...

Technically yes. But I'd be willing to bet that more students would be let into games if there were 1000 there and not all tickets were sold. Winning will do it, and not having games over winter break. (but I know the second is unavoidable). We had record student attendance when Akron was on the 19-game winning streak, and I remember there actually being Buzz on campus about the Zips basketball team. Also improve the freakin student section. While I was a student, the "ZipZone" changed locations three freaking times.

UL didn't destroy us in 2013...we lost 35-30...with a chance to win the game in the last 2-min of the game. We played sloppily, but I don't agree that the Zips were destroyed. The first two drives of the game for Akron resulted in INTs in the redzone for Lousiansa (cough, cough Kyle Pohl was the starting QB). Take those two drives out of the game, and we win that game rather solidly, even if they resulted in 3-and-outs. We also missed 2 FG towards the end of the game that would have been the difference. And I think Akron's vastly improved since 2013. Note, it's not four in a row on the road, and four at home...I just put them in that order because it's how it is on the release

I think something like the Gentile Center could be done with the JAR. It does look like a cozy place, but frankly I feel like that's what we need. The JAR is not a cozy environment...at all...and if we're stuck with the JAR, giving everyone a good seat is a must.

I do think that's pretty scattered. 32 teams. 66 players in the NFL. That's about 2 per team...53 starting players plus 10 player practice squads. That means MAC players represent like 3.2% of all NFL players. But we're arguing semantics so it's not all that important.

The MAC has some really good players that are scattered around the NFL. Hopefully one day soon we'll start to see a few Akron players scattered about again. Are there any graduating seniors who might wind up on NFL teams this year?

The Lady Zips are continuing their very successful season on Wednesday when they take on the Toledo Rockets. Hopefully they can bring home a win (unlike the men)! Zips are happily sitting at 12-2 on the season, 2-1 in the MAC, leading the MAC East at the moment. Toledo is sitting at 9-5 on the season, 2-1 in the MAC. The two biggest problems that I've seen from the ladies' game is eeriely similar to the men's. The Zips will go through long scoring spells, and miss a lot of threes. This team is extremely successful when the 3s land, but struggle when they are not. Zips struggled mightily against BGSU, and they were only shooting about 3-13 in the 3pt shots; vs EMU a Zips win did not seem in question throughout the game, the Zips were shooting 8-15 behind the arc. Anything to offer on the Lady Zips?