Resolution Urges Administrators To Stall Athletic Department Move
June 15, 2011 – NEW ORLEANS — Two of the city’s most influential leaders on Wednesday hailed passage of a state Senate resolution urging the University of New Orleans to suspend its move out of Division 1 NCAA athletics.
SCR 68 — authored by Sens. Conrad Appel and Edwin Murray — asks administrators at UNO to put the brakes on the process to reclassify varsity athletics at the school. It has no binding authority, however, and the House of Representatives has yet to act on the resolution.
In statements released by City Hall, Mayor Mitch Landrieu and City Council Vice President Arnie Fielkow applauded the advancement of the measure.
“Improving the state of higher education in New Orleans is critical to our city’s success, and collegiate athletic departments plays an integral role in that development,” Landrieu said. “Ongoing discussions about UNO’s future governance should conclude before final actions are taken on athletic reclassification so that all the pertinent parties can properly assess the situation.”
Fielkow said the reclassification of athletics should be placed on hold, pending the selection of a permanent chancellor at UNO.
“Athletics at the university level have a direct impact on the academic and economic well-being of the school, and it is my hope that the UNO administration halts the reclassification process until further review,” Fielkow said.
UNO initiated the move as a cost-cutting measure. Louisiana universities are facing significant budget cuts and have been reducing expenses in a variety of ways.
Read more: http://www.wdsu.com/politics/28249088/detail.html#ixzz1PNdfO1xB
