[Redrum]

and doesn't look at the merit of their actual assertions shouldn't make such categorical statements.  This includes opinions on  Barsky, who is a biased participant in the K.al sports funding debate.

"Money is fungible, and the compensation for all coaches is an expense to the campus Intercollegiate Athletics program," Barsky wrote in an e-mail to The Chronicle. "But its total annual expenditures exceed its revenues each and every year, and the loss is covered by draining funds from the academic budget."

The italicized part is worth pondering.  In the last university budget, the state of California (via the overall university budget) was subsidizing the athletic dept. by approx. $10 million.  My understanding is this figure is in addition to the disbursement from the university contingency funds recently cut back by the university chancellor.  But the point is the K.al athletic department chronically spends more than it takes in from sports revenue.  That is the kernel of truth in Barsky's statement and that is the issue worth debating.  Barsky's biased position doesn't affect that.  Whether that money,  if not spent by the athletic dept., would make its way into academics is a subject for a separate debate.

[Redrum]

and doesn't look at the merit of their actual assertions shouldn't make such categorical statements.  This includes opinions on  Barsky, who is a biased participant in the K.al sports funding debate.

"Money is fungible, and the compensation for all coaches is an expense to the campus Intercollegiate Athletics program," Barsky wrote in an e-mail to The Chronicle. "But its total annual expenditures exceed its revenues each and every year, and the loss is covered by draining funds from the academic budget."

The italicized part is worth pondering.  In the last university budget, the state of California (via the overall university budget) was subsidizing the athletic dept. by approx. $10 million.  My understanding is this figure is in addition to the disbursement from the university contingency funds recently cut back by the university chancellor.  But the point is the K.al athletic department chronically spends more than it takes in from sports revenue.  That is the kernel of truth in Barsky's statement and that is the issue worth debating.  Barsky's biased position doesn't affect that.  Whether that money,  if not spent by the athletic dept., would make its way into academics is a subject for a separate debate.