UTRGV President Guy Bailey speaks about the Athletics Fee Referendum results during a news conference Nov. 11, 2021, at the UTRGV Visitors Center on the Edinburg campus. Bailey, along with referendum sponsors UTRGV Senior Vice President for Strategic Enrollment and Student Affairs Maggie Hinojosa, Vice President and Director of Athletics Chasse Conque, and Student Government Association President Jose Pablo Rojas, answered questions during the conference and addressed concerns raised by students during previous SGA town halls. Natalie Lapsley/Rider File Photo
Sept. 2, 2021–UTRGV senior vice president for Strategic Enrollment and Student Affairs Maggie Hinojosa and Chasse Conque, vice president and director of Athletics, ask the Student Government Association to conduct a referendum to establish a football and women’s swimming and diving programs, marching bands and spirit teams for the 2024-25 academic year.
The referendum would increase the intercollegiate athletics fee by $11.25 per credit hour, capped at 12 hours, and create nearly 500 student involvement opportunities. Students outside of the tuition guarantee would not pay the increase until 2025 if they are still enrolled in the current level.
Sept. 8, 2021–The Student Government Association votes to approve the Athletics Fee Referendum application during its scheduled SGA meeting.
Town halls on the referendum would be held in the PlainsCapital Bank Student Union Theater on the Edinburg campus and the PlainsCapital Bank El Gran Salón on the Brownsville campus. The UTRGV student body would vote on the referendum from 8 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. Nov. 8 through 10.
Oct. 5, 2021–During a senate meeting, the Student Government Association Vice President for Brownsville Yahia Al-Qudah presents the Fall 2021 referendum courtesy resolution, which he was an author of, and states the SGA gives its official support of the referendum.
Al-Qudah tells the Rider that once the resolution goes through the committee and back to the senate, if approved, it would be the official opinion of SGA that the referendum is endorsed.
Oct. 12, 2021–Referendum sponsors Maggie Hinojosa and Chasse Conque answer questions during the first Student Government Association town hall in the PlainsCapital Bank Student Union Theater on the Edinburg campus.
Oct. 14, 2021–Hinojosa and Conque answer questions during the second Student Government Association town hall on Oct. 14, in the PlainsCapital Bank El Gran Salón on the Brownsville campus.
Nov. 2, 2021–During its meeting, the Student Government Association rejects the resolution that calls for UTRGV students to vote in favor of the Athletics Fee Referendum in a 10-4 vote.
Senate Chair Jose Raul Ruiz announced the results: 10 voted against, four in favor, and two abstained.
Nov. 11, 2021–In a campuswide email, UTRGV Student Life and Dean of Students announce the results of the Athletics Fee Referendum voting.
The UTRGV student body voted to pass the referendum by a vote of 3,497 to 2,287. The email also mentioned a news conference would be held the same day at 3 p.m. at the UTRGV Visitors Center on the Edinburg campus to discuss the outcome of the referendum.
Later that day at the conference, UTRGV President Guy Bailey addressed concerns students raised during one of the previous town halls regarding the art facilities on the Brownsville campus and stated a solution would be announced soon.
What is next?–The referendum results will be presented to the University of Texas System Board of Regents, which is scheduled to meet Feb. 23 and 24 in Austin.
As of Jan. 10, UTRGV President Guy Bailey had yet to announce any details on a solution for the concerns regarding the art facilities on the Brownsville campus.
–Compiled by Editor-in-Chief Verilu Infante
