Plans to build a $35 million training facility for the Eastern Michigan University football team face opposition from the university’s student government.
The proposed facility would include practice fields for the football and soccer programs, an indoor track, an improved weight room, new football suites and a new football scoreboard, according to NBC Sports. This comes as the football team made its first bowl appearance in nearly 30 years last season.
From AB: Should Eastern Michigan Drop Football?
So far, pending approval for the project, the school has raised $9 million — including a $6 million gift from an anonymous donor. How the remaining $26 million will be covered remains to be seen, but student government has said it is against the notion of using university money for the facility.
In a Facebook post, which you can read in full below, student body president Tanasia Morton and vice president Joshua Starr said that while they support the use of university funds for recreation and intramurals, they are against using the funds for athletics.
“To be clear, any renovations or additions to any of the University’s athletics facilities as part of this $35 million plan, aside from the Rec/IM, must be completely funded by outside donors,” the statement reads.
EMU Board of Regents member Michelle Crumm told the Detroit Free Press that the board hasn’t discussed the topic yet, but was briefed about the plans in early February.
“We haven’t committed any money [from the university’s general fund]. We’re focused on fundraising,” Crumm told the Free Press.
