ISU Sports Safe at Home

To some student-athletes, last December must have felt like 
the bottom of the ninth, with two outs and the home team 
trailing.

Despite numerous cost-cutting steps, a large deficit loomed 
over the athletic department budget, and it appeared the only 
way out of the red ink was to drop some sports.

Although officials did not indicate what sports might be in 
jeopardy, speculation centered on baseball, women's tennis 
and gymnastics, and men's swimming and golf.

But that was before ISU officials and students put on their 
rally caps and momentum began to swing. In February, Iowa 
State kicked off a scholarship campaign that includes a $5 
million endowment for student-athlete scholarships.

In March, the student government approved the first of two 
scheduled increases in student fees allocated to 
intercollegiate athletics. By fiscal year 1996-97, the two 
increases will be adding an additional $500,000 annually to 
the athletic depart-ment budget.

With antici-pated increases in athletic conference and NCAA 
revenue and success in reducing athletic department costs, 
officials believe they now have a game plan that will allow 
the university to retain the current roster of 19 sports and 
add women's soccer in the fall. 

ISU President Martin Jischke said the university plan to 
solve athletic budget problems and retain the large number of 
sports offerings hinges on two key elements -- a turnaround 
in football attendance and receipts, and success in raising 
the $5 million endowment to provide scholarship funds for 
student-athletes.

He added he is confident that both goals can be achieved and 
commended students and student leaders for their part in 
resolving the sports issue and their "recognition of the 
important role that a broad-based program of intercol-legiate 
athletics plays in a university."

_____
contact:  Internal Communications, (515) 294-3129
updated:  5-25-95