By Jayme Fraser

A note from the author: In this story, I explore the reasons why the University of Montana is skipping a student body vote on a proposed increase to the athletic fee. Students voted down a similar proposal just one year earlier. The piece also shows how the university is cornered into paying for athletics Title IX compliance with student money whether it's a fee increase or a tuition increase because of an unhealthy athletics budget and the uncompromising nature of complying with Title IX.

The Story: Students could see a $50 increase to the athletic fee, even though they voted against a $56 increase last year.

Student athletes and artists asked the Associated Students of The University of Montana for the increase last year to build new training facilities and a new art studio. Heated debate concluded that such a large increase needed to be approved by a full student body vote rather than a mandate from student government. The new proposal would raise the fee $12.50 each of the next four semesters.

But the proposal does not involve a student vote. The University is taking it straight to the state Board of Regents for approval.

President Royce Engstrom intended for ASUM to learn about the fee proposal during two talks about Title IX compliance, but the topic was simply forgotten. So he remedied the miscommunication and came to answer senators' questions at their weekly meeting Wednesday, but very few senators expressed concern about the issue.

"It's rare for a department to bypass ASUM," Sen. Patrick Rhea said.

Even though ASUM historically approves every fee increase at the University, UM's president and the Regents do not have to let students vote on the matter.

"Last year, it was the prerogative of student athletes and the student body to bring it to a student vote," Engstrom said. "If students think this is how it should be done, they can talk to me. Our job is different from ASUM's. We've taken a more deliberative approach this year."

Engstrom has been working with ASUM President Ashleen Williams, Athletic Director Jim O'Day and others to find a way to maintain UM's Title IX compliance for gender equity. While women account for 40 percent of UM's athletes, they are 52 percent of the overall student population.

"That's a distinct gap we need to attend to," Engstrom said.

Failure to maintain Title IX compliance could result in UM losing its qualification for federal funds, including grants and scholarships.

"They are nervous about taking it to a student vote and having it fail, because it needs to happen," Williams said.

And the athletic department simply can't foot the bill.

"In our current budget, we could not add another sport," O'Day said.

The proposed fee increase would generate more than $700,000 a year once in full effect, which is the same amount UM estimates it would spend annually to maintain a women's softball team.

"Last year the fee increase was sensationalized because the facilities problems were right there in our face," Williams said. "Now, because we are in the middle of the NCAA accreditation process, the focus is on Title IX."

Willams said although the specific reason for a fee increase is different, the larger problem remains the same.

The athletic budget is tight and relies much more heavily on ticket sales than comparable institutions. The program simply does not have any money to grow — for facilities, for sports, for scholarships.  

"But I don't have another solution," Williams said.

Even if the athletic fee was not increased, the funding for softball would still likely be paid for by students with their tuition.

Currently, 41 percent of the athletic department's budget comes from UM's general fund — aka tuition revenue — and ticket sales account for the next largest chunk at 39 percent. Since the rate of private donations is not expected to jump and the athletic department doesn't want to lose ticket sales by raising prices, students will ultimately foot the bill to add softball.

It's the same reason the athletic fee was established in 1992.

"The athletic fee was created to help with Title IX, so we could add women's soccer and golf," O'Day said.

The only other option to stay in compliance with Title IX for athletics would be to cut a men's program, which would cause UM to lose its Division I status. O'Day said that's not option for UM.

Even with the fee increase, the athletic department is not sure how it will afford the startup costs for softball or even make room for them.

"We don't have a place for them," O' Day said. "We don't have any offices, equipment storage or a field. It's overwhelming."

O'Day and Engstrom said they have been seeking other funding options for the department as they've been revising the athletics five-year plan and budget the last six months.

"The campus doesn't have money. Everybody needs money and athletics is no different," O'Day said. "But adding another female sport is the right thing to do."