Who deserves more?

ECU should reconsider the areas that they are distributing their funds

By: Lauren Collins

Posted: 12/4/08

The university seems to have a number of things that need to be taken care of or adjusted in terms of funding. Recently I discovered that Skip Holtz's salary is $565,000 for this year's season, and ECU has locked him into a six-year contract that is expected to total a whopping $9.5 million. Although a large contribution to this salary comes from Pirate Club donations, ticket sales and sponsored events that Holtz participates in, his coaching has minimal reflection on student academics, which should be a higher priority than athletics.

The ECU Board of Trustees also approved a $32,400 raise for athletic director Terry Holland, bumping his salary to $356,400. Ironically, the professors, who work hard to prepare students for their future careers, average salaries of about $74,000. Aside from the obvious whoa-factor involved with the drastic difference in salaries, there are concerns on campus as well.

Because funding is minimal, there is a strict 30-page limit on printing in the Student Writing Center's computer lab. The signs are plastered for all to see, yet when students print their materials, a nice big blob of splotchy black covers the pages. I was informed that the Writing Center does not receive enough funding to provide a new printer for the number of students that walk in each day. Perhaps the percentage of ticket sales that Skip Holtz receives could be allocated to student needs instead.

Professors and instructors are starting to email their ".pdf" files to students because they are limited on copies. It doesn't do much good for students who have limited computer access. If they go to the Student Writing Center, they're wading through ink stains or inconveniently forced to get to the labs that often close before their posted times. It seems beneficial that funding needs that directly affect students should be a top priority.

During the 2006-2007 fiscal year, only 13 percent of funding went to supplies and materials. Approximately 14 percent was directed to services, but the combination only totaled about $187,000. Judging by existing problems, it's safe to assume that funding has either stayed the same or decreased since 2007. Ironically, student tuition and fees has increased to $4,218 for in-state students and $14,732 for out-of-state undergraduates. Graduate students are expected to pay about $400 more. With an increasing amount of students entering ECU, it seems simple that the total tuition and fee amounts received could be delegated much more appropriately.

I discussed the coach's salary with a football player, and he seemed to share little concern about Holtz's astounding pay. He informed me that many of the guys playing football are currently working with full-ride scholarships including tuition, books and housing. I'm sure if I could receive the all-expenses-paid package to ECU for playing a game, I wouldn't be so shocked and appalled by the football coach's outrageous salary either. In the players' defense, they do train for almost the entire year, and their athletic ability has allowed them to have their scholarship privileges, but what about the average Joes that walk the campus each day?

All my life, it has been reiterated that grades are important and academic success will determine your future success. It has come to my attention now that the university may seem to care more about the rising status of our sports teams than the academic performance of our students. I will give some credit to Skip Holtz, who implemented a study hall for the players, but his coaching only affects a small fraction of the thousands of students attending ECU, so perhaps ECU should reconsider the allocation of so much money to their football coach and spread it more evenly to other areas as well.

This writer can be contacted at opinion@theeastcarolinian.com.