There is a definite imbalance. With Arizona State dishing out money left and right, it leaves some organizations short changed due to priority. In this case, Division I programs usually have priority over club sports; club sports visibly could be healthier in funding. Looking deeper into the problem, is there an alternative source?
For the past two years, the Undergraduate Student Government [USG] has allocated 200,000 dollars to the Sports Club Association [SCA]; funding is based off of a certain criteria. The money rewarded gives the SCA the decision on how the funds will be allocated between the 35 clubs under the association. Within this process, the clubs meet with the executive board to discuss their needs and proposed budget.
Based on the criteria—involvement, number of members and other conditions—the clubs usually receive anywhere from 2,000 to 15,000 dollars. The clubs can ask for additional money when needed.
“Ideally, they [clubs] could use more. The allocated amount doesn’t cover the majority of cost for any club, but it does provide opportunities for the clubs to represent ASU at different competitions in the US,” says Program Coordinator Tara Yesenski.
According to Yesenski, the “SCA would love to fund more national travel.” This seems to be the tug and war between clubs and the Student Clubs Association. Constant fundraising has been the result of some clubs seeking more national-level opportunities. The gray area of it all is whether or not the clubs had applied and asked for addition funding…unless that request was scraping the bottom of the barrel.
For some teams who lack a coach or staff that are not players—girls volleyball and the Synchro Devils to name a few—they are put at fault. Yesenski says that “it is up to the club to determine whether they want part of their dues to go towards paying for a coach.” To hire a coach, however, might be out of their reach. The tug and war begins to cycle; they could ask for more funding. How lenient is the association to giving out money might be the true question. In addition to this, is the 200,000 dollar source worth enough to keep giving?
Currently, a part of the SCA’s funds are being distributed elsewhere but still, in support of club sports. Still in the works, the Student Recreation Center is in the expansion process—creating general practice fields, workout facilities and competition fields. The competition field recipients are: men’s and women’s rugby, men’s and women’s lacrosse, men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s ultimate and field hockey.
Not only in physical respects is the Student Clubs Association changing. Constant organization of the funding process and other processes is the objective to create a smoother system.
“In my opinion, I would like to see better access to our sport clubs. What I mean by this is three-fold. First, if someone wants to join a sport club, the registration process with the SRC is cumbersome. For a majority of the clubs, we require a health clearance, to register online and pay a fee. I would like to streamline this as much as possible so the process doesn’t hinder someone in joining the club. Secondly, we need to promote home games and their achievements as much as possible,” says Yesenski. “Third, I would like to see the SCA be a driving force and leader on campus when it comes to spirit, pride and traditions of ASU. They love being a part of the movement on campus to build the pride of being a Sun Devil!”
The system is not black and white. The reason for imbalance or complete balance depends on the clubs’ communication when it needs organization and structure. Then again, there is a central point. Is two-hundred thousand dollars sufficient enough for 35 teams? Not to budget every little thing, but to compete comfortably.
“We want all the clubs to represent the university in a positive light…The sport clubs are not just a group of students who get together and play a sport. They practice multiple hours a week, they manage a budget, plan travel for all their teammates, participate in community service projects, and provide opportunities for students to be a part of something bigger than themselves,” says Yesenski.
Any thoughts? Contact me at bcapria@asu.edu.
