I'm getting old and forgetful, but my best recollections follow. The Beach Pride Referendum passed around 2000...I don't think we've had any other attempts, although there may have been one unsuccessful attempt at a minor increase a while back. Wayne Stickney Smith - who was a Track and Field Athlete and either had just been ASB (Associated Student Body) President or was elected Prez just after, championed it. Wayne went to all the athletics teams and asked them what they needed to be "fully funded" and then backed into a per student fee that would reach those amounts, and added a little bit to allow for some ASB things related to "spirit" (bands, cheer leaders, some discretionary funds for other student groups/activities, etc.) to get more support. The vote was technically only a recommendation to the President who had final say either way; it passed by a healthy margin and Dr. Maxson implemented it. That was a nice boost, but tragically it did not have a mechanism to increase the fee over time to account for inflation or increased expenses or needs, and sadly it soon became woefully inadequate to achieve what it had intended. I have heard of other BW schools passing student fees but am not a specialist on the specifics of those like the amounts, how/when they were implemented, etc.

King Alexander was hired to increase overall fundraising to offset declining state support and believed successful athletics was a great way to raise money. He encouraged teams to travel to "alumni rich" regions as ambassadors and was somewhere between moderately to pretty successful in fundraising overall. However, he never held Vic to a budget and when King left, I've heard there was a mid-7 figure hole from years of over spending and insufficient fundraising, ticket sales and sponsorships in athletics. I've been told from decent but not guaranteed sources that Andy was given a fresh slate and a cushion, but failed miserably at staying on budget...now he was dealt a guaranteed no-win hand with the Pandemic, so I am not sure his tenure will ever be fairly or accurately assessed from a financial standpoint.

The current direction - from what I've seen and garnered - is for 49er Athletics (I am not a fan of "Be^ch" but I digress) to be acceptably competitive as a mid major. There is a big deficit, there is apparently some spending that really needs to be reeled in and more fundraising (or other forms of income) needs to happen to remain competitive. I do not know if the current deficit will be forgiven or re-paid over time or what, BUT this proposed fee would certainly go a long way in helping that direction for LBSt Athletics. I do not know for a fact if there will be a vote, if it will be advisory or binding, or if eventually the fee will just need an approval by Pres Conoley. Certainly if the results of this survey implies that students, alumni and community support 49er Athletics being a big part of campus and community life, it makes the vote or approval of a fee more palatable.