The Coastal Problem Initiative fights against what founders feel are university funding injustices, stating that $3,634 of Coastal Carolina University students’ annual tuition fees are put towards athletics.
Founders of The Costal Problem have declared their mission: “fighting funding injustices and demanding financial accountability.” The initiative’s flyers have been posted across campus and Instagram to make their mission clear.
“We demand the Board of Trustees reduce athletic subsidies, to create equitably fund academic programs, and redirect resources to address critical student needs, thereby enhancing affordability and the overall academic experience,” the flyer reads.
The Coastal Problem claims 40 million dollars goes to CCU’s athletics annually, citing Sportico College Sports Finances Database, which is inaccessible without a subscription.
Alondra Johnson, senior commercial music and jazz major, is working on a personal project to combat this. She is working to gain signatures from the CCU community to present to the Board of Trustees, with hopes to create more equal support between departments without cutting funding from sports.
“Sports are foundational in the character of CCU,” Johnson said. “But also, the other characteristics of it do include academics, culture, everything in between, and getting that support is lacking.”
Alec Pederson, a junior music education major, explained how some students consider practicing in closets due to the lack of classroom space.
“There is not enough space for everyone in the music department to meet. We’re bursting at the seams,” Pederson said.
Another challenge the music department faces is not being housed together. They are spread throughout the Edwards College of Arts and Humanities, Sands Hall, Wheelwright Auditorium and Band Hall.
The Band Hall is another concern for the music department, which lacks space.
“When it comes to recital season, everybody is fighting over one room because we only have one room for our practice facilities for a band,” Johnson said. “There’s not really the capacity to hold more in future students because we are already at a point where it’s being like almost a fight of who gets to have the room, and then it’ll cause other students to fail.”
Not only does the Band Hall have spatial issues, but it is also two miles off campus. Until recently, the shuttle only went to the Band Hall if requested, making transportation difficult when students go during the day and must return for other classes.
“I remember my freshman year I didn’t have a vehicle yet, and getting stuck at the band hall until 12:30 at night really showing me how much the university cares about making sure their students have a reliable source of transportation, which we don’t,” Johnson said.
To combat the transportation issue, Student Government Association announced that starting Sept. 26, the Walmart CCU Shuttle will also stop at the Band Hall.
Professor of Music Philip Powell, Ph.D., explained how although they are excited about students joining the department, it unfortunately becomes difficult with lack of resources.
“We’re growing, but we’re not making the investment into the students who are here. You guys are our primary job. Either we’re an academic institution with athletics on the side or we’re an athletic institution with an intellectual side hustle,” Powell said.
An anonymous source demanded accountability from the university administration.
“I’m not saying don’t support the athletes, I’m not even saying don’t build the sports facility. But what about the academic facilities? There has to be a balance,” the anonymous source said. “And so that would be my question to university administration. What is your plan for equity at Coastal Carolina University? Because right now we do not have anything like equity; It’s locker rooms before classrooms.”
University administrations and the athletic department did not respond to The Chanticleer by the deadline requested to speak with them.
Editor’s note: This is an ongoing story.
