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The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Found-ation asked the UW-L student senate to allow $750,000 now earmarked for another part of the project to be shifted to stadium construction.
After several hours of debate, the senate passed a resolution late Wednesday that supports reallocating the funds and sets a student referendum on the matter for April 29.
The vote was 27-0 in favor, with two abstentions.
Such a show of student support sends a good message to prospective donors, said Mike Desmond, UW-L development officer.
The foundation needs the additional $2 million to keep stadium work on track, after bids came in $2.3 million above what had been projected for Phase 1 of the UW-L Veterans Memorial Athletic Complex project.
Construction must start later this spring to be completed in time to host the WIAA State Track and Field Championships in spring 2009.
UW-L students passed a referendum in February 2006 pledging $2.5 million in student fees to the project.
That referendum included reallocating $750,000 in reserve funds for Recreational Eagle Center improvements to the strength-training center portion of the stadium project.
When the stadium project was divided into two phases, the $750,000 reverted back to the Recreational Eagle Center reserve fund unless the Phase II strength-training facility came into fruition, said Fred Ludwig, president of the UW-L Student Association.
The resolution passed by the senate Wednesday specifies there be a written agreement with the UW-L Foundation that it will continue to raise money toward the strength-training center.
Several students Wednesday opposed reallocating the funds, saying the matter was being too quickly rushed through.
Some commented it wasn’t fair for the foundation to come back to the students.
“It is not our fault that their fundraising efforts fell short,” said student Jeffrey Allen.
But other students pointed out the money was needed now.
“They have seven days to raise $2 million,” said student senate member Jake Rome. “If it is rushed for them, it should be rushed for us.”
Festival Foods owner Dave Skogen, a co-chairman of the fundraising committee for the stadium project, and Logistics Health CEO Don Weber encouraged the senate to support the funding shift.
Weber said he plans June 7 to start a annual motorcycle ride to raise money for the stadium project and scholarships for veteran students.
KJ Lang can be reached at (608) 791-8226 or klang@lacrossetribune.com.
Donatello wrote on Apr 21, 2008 8:42 AM:
You are a blind self-serving political hack that has nothing to add to this discussion so you attack others that have wisdom in these things and know more than you do.
That student fund was not intended for these purposes, it has been hijacked. "