'Reveille': Athletics bailout for LSU is appreciated but embarrassing

Published Sep 10, 2012 at 10:00 am (Updated Sep 10, 2012)

"Welcome to LSU, where the value of your education is determined by the football team's success." That's the opening of a new editorial in LSU's student newspaper, The Daily Reveille, which calls the new revenue-sharing agreement between the LSU Athletics Department and the university at large "embarrassing." The LSU Board of Supervisors approved the deal Friday. University officials say the agreement, which will send at least $7.2 million annually from the athletics department to academic endeavors on campus—plus a percentage of any surplus money—is among the first of its kind across the country. "A bailout from LSU athletics is kind, but it's not a long-term solution to the university and the state's lack of financial security," The Reveille says. "What if the football team has a season, in three years from now, when it loses every game? Will athletics still bring in the same amount of money? Will the success of the university fail when the football team fails?" Until the state stops cutting higher education funding and LSU builds an endowment, the editorial concludes, "let's hope the football team continues breaking records and winning. Our classes and LSU's future could depend on it." Read the complete editorial here.

Today's poll question: Do you think the new revenue-sharing agreement between the LSU Athletics Department and the university at large reflects inadequate support of LSU academics from donors and the state?