The University of Wisconsin is increasing its spending on the Athletics Performance Center project by
more than $9 million. The money, which comes from gift funds, will be used to renovate Camp Randall, build new lockers and other athletic
facility changes. While I recognize the need for keeping up-to-date athletic facilities and I, myself, am
a lover of Badger athletics, at this particular moment in time, this money could be better spent. The
university should prioritize non-athletic funding.

While athletics do need to be funded, adding $9 million dollars to the budget at a time when school
funding is being cut is ill-advised. We as students bear a major burden from budget cuts. As we
see programs getting cut, tuition rising and faculty adjustments based on the budget, it seems that
spending money loosely on projects which have already had a great deal of funds allocated for them is
unnecessary and damaging to the university.

Athletics is not the field in which we should be spending this money. While our athletic facilities
could use some work, these new changes are unnecessary. While there is a need for sports, there is also a need for
many things on this campus that don’t get funded. Many buildings are aging. Many programs are
understaffed. Many students need more financial aid. Athletics should be a priority, but not above the
student body and faculty.

The previous state of funding has not seemed to be hurting our athletics. The Badger’s football team has gone
to the Rose Bowl two years in a row, and we have made great strides in other sports as well, including a
national championship in men’s cross country and a Sweet Sixteen appearance in men’s basketball.

The previous state of renovation does not seem to deter recruits. Our football team was successful in large part
because of the unconventional recruitment of Russell Wilson. With two consecutive top 10 football
seasons, a basketball team that has made the tournament every year since 1999 and a historically good
hockey team, players want to come here regardless of the condition of our athletic facilities.

This extra allocation of funds is not necessary and ultimately hurts the university. Like many other things
on this campus, the improvement of athletic facilities is a noble goal. However, in the midst of budget
cuts, it should not be a top priority. The money would be better spent on non-athletic elements of the
school.

Spencer Lindsay ([email protected]) is a freshman majoring in political science.