Southeast Missouri State University could cut men's golf or men's indoor track to save money, athletics director Don Kaverman said Thursday.

But at a budget forum at the University Center, he said the school should steer clear of major cuts to athletics or risk losing students to other schools that have solid, Division I programs.

About 300 faculty, staff, administrators and students crowded into the center's ballroom to discuss possible cost-cutting moves in nonacademic areas including athletics and vending services.

Most of the 2 1/2-hour discussion centered on athletics, with some students and faculty arguing for major sports cuts.

Dr. David Cameron, assistant professor of history, said the school should focus on academics in these tough budget times.

"It does not exist to provide sports," he said.

Dr. Susan Swartwout, an associate professor of English, said other colleges across the nation have cut sports to save money. She said it could be more beneficial to students to cut sports than academic programs.

Kaverman said basketball and football are the cornerstones of the school's athletics program and funding for those sports shouldn't be cut.

Southeast is reviewing 18 academic programs and school president Dr. Ken Dobbins plans to recommend the elimination of some degree programs with few majors when the board of regents meets on Nov. 14.

Dobbins said after the meeting that the university hopes to save about $1.45 million from academic and nonacademic cuts as the school tries to balance its budget.

He estimated that $1 million might be cut from academic operations. That includes program cuts, curriculum changes, faculty retirements and staffing changes.

The rest of the cost savings would come from nonacademic cuts and efforts to boost revenue for such items as KRCU radio and student health services.

Marketing professor Dr. James Ricks argued against major cuts in spending on sports. The university currently subsidizes its athletics program with $3.8 million annually.

Ricks said Division I schools reap publicity from sports. "The media don't care about Division II," he said.

Several students said they would rather the university cut sports than academic programs. Some faculty suggested the school should move down to Division II where schools have to field fewer teams.

Four to five years

Kaverman said even if the university were to drop down to Division II -- a move that school officials oppose -- it would take at least four or five years before the change could be made under NCAA rules. The school sponsors 16 sports -- nine for women and seven for men -- two over the 14-sport minimum required by the NCAA for Division I schools.

To meet gender equity guidelines, Kaverman said Southeast can't afford to cut any women's sports. He said that leaves only men's golf and men's indoor track for possible elimination.

The university, he estimated, could save $35,000 to $40,000 a year by eliminating the golf program and less than that by eliminating the track team.

mbliss@semissourian.com

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