Not every student at a large Division I university cares about how the football team does each week.

For example, student Jill Morand was not among the sea of red that celebrated in the stands after Indiana quarterback Blake Powers tossed a touchdown pass to tight end Matt O'Neal to give the Hoosiers a 10-0 lead over Kentucky. Instead, the psychology major was poring over her books about one mile from Memorial Stadium in the university library.

Morand was one of a number of undergraduate students catching up on schoolwork that Saturday evening, and she expressed her displeasure at a recent trend affecting many Division I campuses -- increased student fees that help compensate the school's athletics department. Before the 2004 fall semester, Indiana officials tacked $30 on to each student's tuition to help the athletics department address a budget deficit.

"Athletics aren't something I take advantage of here, and with all of the other expenses we have as students, I don't appreciate the athletics fee being passed along to me at all," Morand said. "I come here because of the academic institution that it is, not for the sports. I'd rather be in the library than at the football game."

Morand was not alone. Fira Alayyouvi, a business major, was waiting for a bus outside the library that was not headed to the football game.

"We shouldn't have to pay more because of their deficit. There are other departments that could use the money to improve some of the courses and some of the technology. I'm personally not interested in the football game," Alayyouvi said.

Indiana isn't the only school turning to student fees as a way to help fund athletics. And there are plenty of students who don't mind being relied upon to generate additional revenue.

Tom Kaiser, a freshman at Indiana, walked right past the library on his way to the stadium and was unfazed when told that his current tuition was more than it would have been two years ago.

"It doesn't make a difference to me. I didn't realize there was an increase in tuition and I don't really care. I'm still going to enjoy going to the games," Kaiser said.

Many students are ambivalent about slight raises in tuition and are fervent supporters of their institution's athletics teams. On the other hand, there are students like Morand who choose not to support the athletics program and are angered that they have to pay more because of the fiscal imbalance.

During the week before the football game, Indiana proposed a plan that would take the onus off the student body and put it back on the fans, as men's basketball ticket prices could be raised $4 a game.

"I think the newer system is more fair because then the people who are attending the events are paying for it," said Jan Parmer, an Indiana graduate who was enjoying a bratwurst and some music by his car before heading into the stadium during the second quarter. "Putting the cost on the people who enjoy the athletics events rather than all of the students makes more sense."

Inside the stadium, Parmer's stance was backed by Dave Thoma, who graduated from Indiana in 1998 and was pleased to see his alma mater get out to a 3-0 start for the first time since 1994.

"I agree that they should take away the $30 fee and increase ticket prices. You have to get the budget back in the black. The people who want to go will continue to go despite the increase in money. The kids that don't care anything about Indiana sports shouldn't have to pay anything at all," Thoma said.

After the game, freshman Matt Thomas celebrated the Hoosiers' victory.

"I've been coming to games since I was 6 years old and I just love IU sports. Half the reason I came here is because of IU basketball. I'm a huge fan and I guess I don't really care about the fee," Thomas said.

His father, though, who was standing nearby, did care.

"Obviously, any extra expenses that come down to the students come down to the parents. Any increase in tuition is a burden," Bill Thomas said.

Indiana Athletics Director Rick Greenspan expressed his appreciation to the Indiana board of trustees for initially approving the $30 fee to help the department get out of its financial hole.

"The board approved this fee, and we sincerely appreciate that decision. We continue to pursue all avenues -- increased ticket sales, success in football and additional corporate backing to grow our base of financial support for our total athletics program. The athletics department's primary objective is to provide and sustain a comprehensive athletics program for our student-athletes. Long-term financial stability is key to attaining this goal," Greenspan said in an e-mailed statement.

The Hoosiers went on to beat Kentucky, 38-14, much to the delight of Tom Kaiser, Matt Thomas and 40,000 of their closest friends.

Jill Morand and Fira Alayyouvi were off pursuing other interests that Saturday night, both understanding the importance of athletics to a college campus, but still strong in their beliefs that their university, as well as all others facing budget deficits in their athletics departments, would be better served to invest more money in academic programs rather than funnel funds toward sports.

The roar of the crowd versus the quiet of the library should be an interesting matchup to watch as struggling athletics departments continue to ask students for financial help.