With a vote of 748 for and 637 against, the athletics fee referendum passed with 54 percent of the votes in the fall online elections held Sept. 18 through Sept. 20. Students will now pay $3.50 per credit hour up to 12 credit hours, which is $42 for a full-time student, each fall and spring semester, effective in the spring semester.
Voter turnout for this election was higher than in recent years. In the election for the recreation center fee, 960 students voted for or against the $74.25 student assessed fee. For this election, 1,437 students voted.
“I think this is going to help the athletes compete against everyone, and it will give the University more pride,” Heather Gamble, athletic training junior from LaPlace said. Gamble is chairperson for the Student Athlete Advisory Committee.
Kayla Breaux, freshman from Houma, said she is glad the referendum passed because she played sports and understands that the athletic department needs the money.
“Their equipment is horrible and I don’t think it is that much to pay just a little extra a semester to help athletics get new equipment,” she said.
Some students are upset that they will be forced to pay the fee rather than given the choice to support athletes by paying to get in the games.
“If you don’t go to any of the sporting events, you shouldn’t have to pay for it,” Allie Fitter, English sophomore from Morgan City, said.
Benton Bilello, freshman from Thibodaux, said he does not mind paying the fee, but he did vote against it.
“I know they (athletes) need the money, but I don’t see why they don’t just charge to get into the games and make money that way,” he said.
Other items on the ballot included the selection of Homecoming Court and an SGA Constitutional amendment.
Female members of the Homecoming Court are Erin Ballantyle, business administration junior from Slidell; Neili Breaux, education junior from Lockport; Allison Doran, sociology senior from Thibodaux; Kristi Ledet, nursing junior from Thibodaux; Christa Schexsnayder, mass communication junior from LaPlace; Kristie Waguespack, communicative disorders junior from Thibodaux and Cynthia Williams, family and consumer sciences junior from Florida.
Male members of the Homecoming Court are Navarro Bailey, computer science senior from Baton Rouge; Jory Billiot, education junior from Thibodaux; Robert “Tex” Bynum, culinary arts junior from Texas; Eric M. Haydel, mass communication senior from Ville Platte; Shane Prejean, biology junior from Houma; Eric Robert, general studies senior from Marrero and Darren Warren, culinary arts senior from Haughton.
Elections for Homecoming King and Queen will be Sept. 25 through Sept. 27.
The SGA Constitutional amendment, which removed serving as chair of the Communications Committee from the duties of the public relations director, was passed by a vote of 753 for and 348 against.
