Club sports are receiving assistance from the University in covering their expenses this year, thanks to a deal brokered by the Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate and the administration last semester. Although the new plan is easing some of the financial burden placed on those who participate in club sports, some of the clubs with high operating budgets are still struggling to fund their activities.
This year's club sports budget is nearly double the $10,000 granted in years past, and it will grow by another near $10,000 next year. While the agreement does not stipulate that the funds must be allocated evenly between clubs, each club was allotted approximately $1,800 this year because no mechanism was in place to determine exactly how much each individual club needed. As a result, the more expensive club sports still have to continue holding fundraisers and charging the players to participate, while other, less-expensive sports have had a much easier time.
The ski team is one of the groups that has received little relief from the new plan. The nearly 70 team members must pay $90 a year in dues, $400 in training expenses, and at least $40 a weekend to race. In addition to providing all their own equipment, they also must pay $15 a week to practice.
"We are all excited to have increased funding, but when we are dealing with $35,000 a year in total expenses, an extra $1,000 or $2,000 doesn't change the fact that fundraising and out-of-pocket spending cover the majority of our costs," captain Jack Kramarczyk said.
The equestrian team also continues to face challenges in order to compete; the team's treasurer estimates expenses to amount to $50,000 each year. In order to help defray those costs, the Offices of the President, Provost, and Vice President made donations totaling $4,000. Gifts from alumni and parents, as well as fundraisers and revenue from hosting tournaments, are enough to cover the cost of running the two shows Tufts hosts each year. However, the 41 members still have to pay about $1,600 each to practice and compete throughout the school year.
Sports such as Rugby and Frisbee will have a large percentage of their needs met by the budget increase. Rugby players usually pay $40 a year in dues, but thanks to the extra money they are receiving this year, that figure has been reduced. Additionally, rugby is required to have a certified Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) at all practices and has traditionally had to pay for this service. Luckily, one team member happens to have EMT training, therefore eliminating that expense.
The men's volleyball club, a winter club sport, will also reap the rewards of the new funding plan. Since the team is allowed to use the varsity girls' volleyball courts and net systems, their costs are not as high as other teams. Still, the money it receives from the University will cover the majority of its costs. The removal of the financial pressures has led some, like men's volleyball club Captain Adam Goldfarb, to a new appreciation of their status as a club sport, and not a varsity sport.
"As a club, we have much more freedom to make our own decisions and schedules. Also, there's much better competition in the club volleyball leagues then there is in the varsity leagues," he said.
To rectify the problem of distributing funds, Student Activities Budget Coordinator Frank Nocito is in the process of creating a Club Sports Allocations Board. It will consist of one member from each team and mirror the processes followed by the TCU Senate to distribute money to student clubs.
Previously, the responsibility of funding club sports fell solely on the TCU Senate, who allocated $10,000 out of the budget surplus each year to be divided among the ten club sports. The addition funding acquired this year is the result of transferring some money from the Arts and Sciences' budget to the student activities fee, and using loan repayments from the TCU Senate.
"The administration understands the importance and benefits of club sports; they're really being very generous," Club Sports Coordinator Nancy Bigelow said.
Next year another shift will occur, bringing another $9,329 increase to the activity budget. The total budget will be $29,031- nearly three times what the clubs received last year. Additionally, the Athletic Department provides $7,000 for coaching related expenses.
"While we realize that $30,000 a year is not enough to completely fund club sports, it will go a long way to reduce the out-of-pocket expenses team members must pay," Athletic Director Bill Gehling said.
