CSUB says fundraising campaign is a success

Central Valley Business Times 1/18/07

More than $6 million has been pledged to California State University, Bakersfield’s campaign to move its athletic program to NCAA Division I, the university says.

“That’s thanks to literally hundreds of people in this community who share the vision of a first-class university in a first-class community,” says CSUB President Horace Mitchell. “Our move to Division I elevates both the community and the university.”

The campaign gained momentum in October when Castle & Cooke Inc. chairman and chief executive officer David Murdock pledged $1 million, matching dollar for dollar all donations since Oct. 20, the university says.

When Mr. Murdock, also CEO of Dole Food Co. Inc., made the pledge, the university had raised $4.04 million. Since then, more than $1 million came in, not including the Castle & Cooke match.

The $6 million includes $2.5 million to begin CSUB’s baseball program, the 19th sport to be offered at CSUB. The university is currently advertising for a baseball coach, and will review applications on Feb. 1.

“We’ve just posted the position announcement,” says CSUB Athletics Director Rudy Carvajal. “We expect to hire a coach in the spring, start recruiting next year and field a team the following year.

Whoever is hired will spend the first year recruiting, the university notes.

Mr. Carvajal says CSUB is “still pursuing conference affiliations and moving forward there as well.” The success of the campaign “certainly puts us in a better position to negotiate membership. It makes us more attractive, obviously. There are a number of conferences that have nine members, and some are looking to add a 10th as well. We have to explore those possibilities.”