Fears are running rampant through the ISU student athlete community, as state budget cuts may threaten the future of some sports teams.

Government of the Student Body has already showed signs that it will support student athletes, such as the swimming teams, in their attempts to stay afloat.

That is a fantastic start.

If the Athletic Department felt it may have to make some changes in its budget plans, maybe it shouldn’t have spent the $200,000 on a salary increase for basketball coach Larry Eustachy.

Instead of focusing on spending money to lower basketball and football ticket prices next year, the Athletic Department should worry about keeping sports teams alive.

Just because sports such as swimming and diving don’t bring in the big bucks doesn’t mean they are less important.

The men’s swimming and diving team, for example, is the epitome of student-athletes.

Six team members were All-Americans, four had 4.0 grade point averages, and the team GPA was 3.13 last semester.

There hasn’t been any announcement of cuts as of yet, but if it does happen, the university will lose outstanding student-athletes in the future.

If the Athletic Department does face a future where decisions on cuts need to be made, priorities need to be put in order.

About $1 million in student fees is allocated to the Athletic Department each year.

The Athletic Department should use this money wisely, and GSB should do whatever it can to make sure sports revenues don’t take precedence over student athletes.

editorialboard: Carrie Tett, Jocelyn Marcus, Katie Goldsmith, Andrea Hauser and Tim Paluch