This school year marks the beginning of a new era in ACC sports, with the inclusion of three new teams and one on the way.
A new era requires changes, but those changes should not begin with increased student fees.
Fans of UNC are well aware of the expansion, and have anticipated higher-quality competition ever since whispers about the expansion began.
What is unexpected is the notion that UNC students should help foot the bill too so that our athletic teams can travel farther distances, such as South Bend, Ind., to reach games and matches.
In order to compensate for increased mileage, the student fee advisory subcommittee is currently considering a $4.75 fee — a 1.7-percent increase to our already steep athletic fees.
Students currently pay $279 in athletic fees every year. There is no need for students to shell out even more money for athletics.
To be clear, the necessity of the extra money is not up for debate. The teams will have to travel, and there is no desire for UNC athletics to fall behind financially. There is no way to get around this roadblock.
Who should be footing the bill is the real concern.
The Rams Club, an organization designed specifically to raise money for UNC’s athletic teams, whose mission pledges to cover “long-term needs of Carolina Athletics,” should bear the brunt of the weight that comes along with the expansion of the ACC. Ask affluent alumni to reach into their pockets — not students faced with loans and recent tuition increases.
The Rams Club is the ideal way to fund the extra travel needed to keep up with the expanding ACC. Members are expected to be called upon to attend to the needs of the athletic department’s budget. Students, however, are not boosters and should not be asked to pay the way of the athletic department.
