Syracuse University Athletics is not being charged its fair share of the exit fee needed to leave the Big East conference, nor is the breakdown of the $7.5 million fee well outlined by university officials.

Administration and members of the University Senate budget committee have reached a compromise on how much SU Athletics and SU will pay for the exit fee. SU was charged this fee when it left the Big East for the Atlantic Coast Conference on July 1. Athletics will be charged a minimum of 25 percent of the fee. Meanwhile, the university’s other revenue centers — including the schools and colleges — will be charged a maximum of 75 percent of the fee throughout a 10-year period.

Officials agree that the entire university will reap the financial benefits of ACC membership. Specifically, schools and colleges will see a benefit of $17 million during 10 years.

The Daily Orange Editorial Board maintains its position from its April 23 editorial, which stated that SU Athletics should pay for the majority of the exit fee.

While covering 25 percent is an increase from the formerly proposed 5 percent, it is not enough for the athletics department to pay a quarter of the fee when the transition is primarily in its benefit. Switching to the ACC advances the department’s recruiting abilities and potential for television contracts.

The ACC will benefit the university academically, but the details of these benefits are not as clear as they should be.

Students are not well informed on the fact that the transition to the ACC is more than just a change in athletic pairings. It is also a change in academic exposure, as the ACC is a more highly regarded academic conference than the Big East. Because of this, officials should make sure students are more aware of how the transition may affect them.

This can be accomplished by outlining information about what the conference change will mean for non-athletes. This includes how much of the fee each home college will be charged and the academic and research opportunities the university could foster with other colleges in the ACC.

Though providing students with a breakdown of the fee will be beneficial, providing tangible examples of how the change in conference will affect them directly will better capture their attention.

The switch to the ACC means more than just a new set of rivals.

Published on October 9, 2013 at 2:28 am

Contact: opinion@dailyorange.com