What If...

[hickoryhouse]

I know this might not be the best of ideas because being the huge school that we are becoming is very important, but we talk about this athletics fee and how it is going to negatively effect the students. Does that mean that attendance will suffer because of it? And if it does, does it really mater?

So we lose some enrollment the first few years, who cares? Can't that be concidered the cost of doing business?

or...

Does adding a fee have anything to do with enrollmen? I guess in short what are we so scared of?

[e-bone ver2.awesome]

It won't affect enrollment. I'm sure someone has the latest figures on how cost effective UNT tuition is compared to other major universities. The athletic fee won't put a dent in that discrepancy.

[DallasGreen]

I know this might not be the best of ideas because being the huge school that we are becoming is very important, but we talk about this athletics fee and how it is going to negatively effect the students. Does that mean that attendance will suffer because of it? And if it does, does it really mater?

So we lose some enrollment the first few years, who cares? Can't that be concidered the cost of doing business?

or...

Does adding a fee have anything to do with enrollmen? I guess in short what are we so scared of?

Extremely good question. I truly think that such a fee would build the pride to attract the traditional college student and only run off those not serious about a degree i.e. commuters, part timers, and old folks going back to school because they are under or unemployed. In the long run an increase in traditional college students can only help. They are the ones who will take pride in a competitively funded athletic program, and they are the ones who will feel the need to give back after graduation. As for the other selfish parasites---let them try to find something cheaper and don't let the door hit them in the rear as they exit!!

[ADLER]

Extremely good question. I truly think that such a fee would build the pride to attract the traditional college student and only run off those not serious about a degree i.e. commuters, part timers, and old folks going back to school because they are under or unemployed. In the long run an increase in traditional college students can only help. They are the ones who will take pride in a competitively funded athletic program, and they are the ones who will feel the need to give back after graduation. As for the other selfish parasites---let them try to find something cheaper and don't let the door hit them in the rear as they exit!!

It would probably increase the enrollment figures. The increase would be relatively small and would no way be comparable with the cost of leaving for another academic institution. (if I'm wrong, I'd sure like to know which one, transportation costs included).

More likely, more students would want to attend North Texas. Everyone likes to be affiliated with a winner.

There will quickly be dividends from the investment.

[FirefightnRick]

It won't affect enrollment. I'm sure someone has the latest figures on how cost effective UNT tuition is compared to other major universities. The athletic fee won't put a dent in that discrepancy.

Absolutely right.

Rick

[Green to the Bone]

Extremely good question. I truly think that such a fee would build the pride to attract the traditional college student and only run off those not serious about a degree i.e. commuters, part timers, and old folks going back to school because they are under or unemployed. In the long run an increase in traditional college students can only help. They are the ones who will take pride in a competitively funded athletic program, and they are the ones who will feel the need to give back after graduation. As for the other selfish parasites---let them try to find something cheaper and don't let the door hit them in the rear as they exit!!

Where to begin in responding to your post and the sad attitudes it reveals?

I was a pretty typical older, nontraditional UNT commuter student, one of those "selfish parasites" who was "not serious about a degree," one of those who don't take pride in the school and won't play a role in the future of athletic success. Here's what not being serious about a degree entailed for me, as it does for thousands of others:

While working full-time in a stressful job that has irregular, wildly unpredictable hours, I was also a full-time grad student, taking at least nine graduate hours each semester, and taking 12 hours one semester. Taking nine hours meant going to class three nights a week after work; 12 hours meant four nights. Since my round-trip commute to Denton is 80 miles, that meant driving at least 240 miles round-trip per week. I spent every weekend for two years doing little or nothing except school work. Most class nights, after class got out at 9:20 p.m., I went to find some coffee somewhere and then stayed in the library doing research for term papers or my thesis until midnight or 1 a.m. One semester, I also taught at UNT, without pay, while taking a full course load and working full-time. I still teach at UNT as an adjunct.

My wife and I have been at all but three home football games starting in 2000 (one missed game was for our son's wedding), including every cold, wet, and miserable moment of that WKU game last year. We figured since the players, cheerleaders, and band couldn't leave early, neither would we. I went alone to the first New Orleans Bowl. We've been football season ticket holders since 2001. While in grad school, I would arrive early for home football games and do research in the library for two or three hours before the game while my wife waited patiently. We've also been at virtually every men's and women's basketball home game for the past three seasons, again an 80-mile round trip. By the time everybody is done, three people in my immediate family will have UNT degrees. I carry my Exes card with me all the time, and I have the Alma Mater and the Fight Song on my iPod. The day I crossed the stage and received my master's degree from UNT was one of the proudest days of my life. My mom, 89 at the time, traveled nearly 1,000 miles to be there.

There is almost nothing unique about my UNT commuter experience. Literally thousands of students are making similar sacrifices right now. Many of them are deeply involved in their school and have a profound appreciation of the value of a degree and the century-plus of tradition it represents. Say what you want, but as you find your way of saying it, please don't insult me, my degree, my seriousness about my degree, or the thousands of other students who are in the same position.

Selfish Parasite, MA '07