AZTECS REPORT

San Diego State students will vote in April on a fee-increase referendum that would mean $2.4 million annually to the athletic department and decrease by the same amount the money athletics receives from the school's general fund.

Students will vote on whether to approve an $80 per semester increase to their Instructionally Related Activities (IRA) fee, which has been $15 since 1982.

The extra money would generate $4.8 million, half of which would be realized by athletics and the other half of which would benefit academic affairs.

"It's about the institution being able to maintain its level of excellence in a difficult financial environment around the state," SDSU Athletic Director Mike Bohn said. "Collaboration among deans, the central administration and other constituent groups is enabling us to deal with a significant challenge."

Bohn would not quantify what nonpassage of the referendum would mean to the athletic department. However, decreases in state funding coupled with increases in costs have significantly affected SDSU, including the athletic department.

According to a voter pamphlet prepared by the Campus Fee Advisory Committee, the average student fee support for athletic programs in the Mountain West Conference (not including Air Force) was $2.8 million for the 2002-03 academic year. San Diego State's athletic department received $537,255 that year. The pamphlet also states that the average yearly IRA fee in the California State University system is $81, while SDSU students pay $30 per year.

Of SDSU's projected $20.7 million athletics revenue for this academic year, 31 percent ($6.35 million) comes from the general fund, more than any other CSU school commits to its athletic department. Passage of the referendum would mean athletics would realize a projected $4.8 million extra from student fees next year and would transfer $2.4 million from its general fund allotment to Academic Affairs. That would leave athletics receiving just 16 percent ($3.45 million) of its $20.9 million projected 2004-05 revenues from the general fund.

Should the measure pass, students would receive free admission to all athletic events as opposed to the discounted price they currently pay.

Bartel returns
Former equipment-room manager Steve Bartel returned to work in SDSU's athletic department on Monday, less than two weeks after the university reinstated him during a hearing to contest his September firing. Bartel was at the center of the 11-month audit that led to the resignation of Athletic Director Rick Bay and two senior associate ADs.

Part of the agreement to reinstate Bartel was that he not return to the equipment room, even though there is an opening there. Instead, Bartel was assigned to work in the events management division under Jim Spillers, the associate AD for facilities and operations.

"He will work with Spillers on events, (setting up), planning, preparation of the physical facilities," Sue Blair, SDSU's director of human resources, said in an e-mail.

Bartel maintains his same job classification and salary, which Blair said is approximately $47,000 per year.

Bartel, 50, was fired Sept. 12 after a California State University audit indicated mismanagement within the equipment room, including the unauthorized trade-out of apparel for such benefits as concert tickets and airline upgrades. It also noted the presence of alcohol in several areas accessible to students.

As a unionized state employee, Bartel was entitled to a hearing conducted by an administrative law judge. On Feb. 5, the second day of the hearing, CSU attorneys suddenly announced Bartel's reinstatement after determining that their case was unraveling. Bartel also was given back pay from September plus interest.

Bartel was unavailable for comment.

Bohn, SDSU's new AD, said: "We had some shortcomings in that (events management) area as far as staffing. We're hopeful he will fill a void that will benefit all our programs."

New hire
New SDSU strength and conditioning coach Jon Francis will begin his duties tomorrow. Francis, who formerly was the strength and conditioning coach at the University of Idaho, will work with the football team and at least one other sport to be determined.