The need for Panther athletics is real. USA Today reports that the athletic program at UNI lost $1.13 million in 2014, and although figures for 2015 are yet to be released, the fact that this legislation has been proposed isn’t a good sign that 2015 was an improvement.
The legislation, Iowa Senate filing 2119, calls for Iowa to send $2.28 million to UNI each year for the next five years. While that would seem to cover the losses that Panther athletics have been showing, this wouldn’t be a real solution. It would act as a band-aid at best, and at worst limit the ability of Iowa athletics to continue to thrive.