Story originally printed in the La Crosse Tribune or online at www.lacrossetribune.com
Published - Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Students approve fund shift for stadium
University of Wisconsin-
La Crosse students said yes Tuesday to allowing $750,000 that had been earmarked for another part of the UW-L stadium project to be used for initial construction.
In an online student referendum, 2,272 students voted yes to 375 no to reallocate money now designated for a strength training center to help pay for Phase I of the project. A simple majority was needed to pass the referendum.
“It is safe to say that the students reinforced their support for the project today,” said Fred Ludwig, president of the UW-L Student Association.
The vote was required to change part of what UW-L students approved in a February 2006 referendum that pledged $2.5 million in student fees to the Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex project.
If students had voted no, the UW-L Foundation would have been responsible for coming up with an additional $750,000 for Phase I, said Mike Desmond, UW-L development officer.
The foundation was forced to turn to students and community for help after Phase I bids came in $2.3 million higher than expected. The group managed to raise another $2.5 million in seven days, but that total included the reallocated student funding and other pledges.
Phase I will include the concourse and west side grandstands, the track, the football field and intramural fields, lighting and the Veterans Hall of Honor.
Construction must start in June to be completed in time to host the WIAA State Track and Field Championships in 2009.
The UW-L student senate passed a resolution earlier this month in support of reallocating the funds and spent the rest of the month educating students about it.
KJ Lang can be reached at (608) 791-8226 or klang@lacrossetribune.com.
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