The Rutgers Univ. Senate on Friday "voted to adopt a series of measures calling for fiscal restraint" at a time when state lawmakers are calling for the school to "upgrade facilities for its basketball programs," according to Keith Sargeant of the Newark STAR-LEDGER. An advisory panel "voted to move a series of recommendations forward to university President Robert Barchi that could potentially restrict Rutgers' future athletics expenditures." The university Senate -- comprised of faculty, staff, students and alumni -- recommended that Rutgers Athletics "should design and enforce a five-year plan to eliminate all financial losses" and "prepare medium- and long-term budget plans." The Senate also stated that responsibility for implementing the athletics budget plans "should rest" with AD Julie Hermann. Additionally, no capital investment "should be undertaken until the Athletics deficit is eliminated" and no allocations from student fees "should be used to finance Athletics." Although the costs to fund Rutgers' 24 sports teams make up less than 2% of the school's overall budget, the athletic department "has been criticized for being one of the most heavily subsidized in the nation" (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 3/28).
