OU faculty senator challenges new provost about funding priorities

At her first Faculty Senate meeting as Ohio University's new provost, Pam Benoit faced tough questions from faculty leaders about OU's funding of intercollegiate athletics. In her report to Senate Monday night, Benoit addressed the tough budget situation in the upcoming years and told faculty members that tough decision will have to be made about cuts to academic programs. When Benoit opened the floor for questions, Steve Hays, longtime professor of classics and world religions at the university, expressed concern that athletics will continue to be funded as a high priority while academic units are forced to make cuts. Benoit responded that academics and athletics are undeniably linked, but that the athletics department should be held accountable for the funding it receives.

A story about the debate will appear in Thursday's Athens NEWS.