A Northern Arizona University humanities professor is calling on the institution to dissolve its athletics department in lieu of pending budget cuts to academic departments. According to the Arizona Daily Sun, Dr. Marcus Ford lists athletics along with several other programs that he states are not critical to the central mission of a university — administration, assessment, advising, student life, libraries, and physical plant. “Athletics cost NAU $4 to $6 million a year and it is not in our mission statement,” he said. “It is a luxury, a very expensive amenity.” Dr. Ford dismisses the diversity of intercollegiate athletics and notes the travel and environmental costs of college sports.
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