News 12 INVESTIGATES: Shaka Smart's $1.3M deal

One thing we have to take in consideration is that Virginia Tech charges students to go to their basketball and football games. My brother went to school there and he had to pay $80 for season tickets at football games and it was something similar to go to basketball games. Add that in and you get student fees around $400.00 at Virginia Tech

Except that not every student is going to buy football tickets.

That's a steal for VT students considering how lame Blacksburg is. What else would they do out in middle earth besides keg stands and go to football/basketball games?

Dude I'm not an arm chair QB. I didnt provide an opinion of how student activities fees should be used. I only stated, that I am typically opposed to a raise in fees for all simply for the sole purpose of athletics. I am pretty sensitive to the cost of education and cringe at any increase in cost. We are not UVA, or Duke this is a public University that serves students, for the most part, where every increase in costs could make a difference between graduating on time, or at a much later date, if at all.

As to the fess, versus applications I am pretty certain the average applicant has no idea what their tution cost will be much less their student activities fees. Typically, only those who are paying the fees complain. Its a good bet that non-basketball attending students didnt want to pony up to offset the coaches salary.

VCU doesnt have football and as such, shouldnt be charging what ODU, or JMU charges. As to that extra twenty (20) million you suggest, we could also increase the cost of tickets, level of donations in order to have preference for post season tickets, increase corporate sponsorships, hold fund raisers, or heres a novel approach have alum and fans pony up more money.

I personally, dont have a dog in the fight as I am not a student. However, in general University's VCU or otherwise shouldnt simply impose fees on students just because they can.

Call me crazy, but I'd like to see an athletic department pay its own way. I think this VCU AD could pull this off.

Go Rams!

What about the $25 Rowdy Ram card? That is the only way for most students to get in to the big games. The much bigger problem for the students are the professors requiring books that cost an arm and a leg and don't add any value.

Let's have a bake sale.

I nominate @Half-baked Mcbride to head it up!

brownies and space cake for ALL!!!!

Can you put a few sprinkles on the cupcakes?

That could be different at VCU. Just saying. Might be a matter of getting it out there.