In the weeks after Hurricane Katrina, the dramatic rise in gasoline prices has struck a severe blow to college athletics budgets across the country. We find ourselves in a difficult balancing act with respect to our intercollegiate athletics programs. We remain committed to providing our student-athletes with a positive experience that will support their academic achievement and personal growth. We want our student-athletes to enjoy strong competition and to look forward to championships opportunities. But at the same time, we must be ever mindful of fiscal realities -- such as the rising cost of team travel, and issues of responsible use of scarce resources.

We have received recommendations from our system office for reducing travel to academic and administrative conferences, and indeed those are responsible and appropriate. But, should athletics travel and the number of games played be considered somehow more holy than travel needs for faculty and staff? I know what my answer would be. Of course, I am mindful of the economic benefit of travel, but that would apply to other types of university travel as well.

I suggest that the NCAA take recent events as a wake-up call. Let us seize this opportunity to look at our structure and policies with fresh eyes. The impact on travel costs to member schools should be a key issue in Division II discussions on regionalization, for example. Association-wide, are there new avenues to explore? Nothing should be off-limits for serious consideration. We should seek new, creative approaches that will enable us to ensure our students a well-balanced athletics experience while still protecting the fiscal health and integrity of the NCAA and its member institutions.

I invite my colleague presidents to begin a dialogue -- and move to action -- on this issue.

Beheruz N. Sethna
President
University of West Georgia