Campus spirit groups are wondering what they?ll do for money after voters rejected a ballot measure that would have added $5 per semester to student fees for the Sacramento State Cheer Squad, Xtreme Dance Team and Marching Band.

The Go Hornets spirit measure failed last Wednesday by 11.3 percent. According to an election summary report by Associated Students, Inc., 1,124 of 3,471 ballots were yes votes and 1,782 voted no to the fee hike.

“There are several things that may have affected the referendum,” Marching Band director Jeff Edom said. “Students were probably concerned with the status of the economy and the parking and tuition hikes.”

Edom believes that the marching band did a good job campaigning for the measure.

“We spoke to a lot of students prior to election day,” Edom said. “We did a good job campaigning, but we could have done better.”

Edom said the cheer squad would suffer the most from this loss.

“This money would have helped us accomplish our mission,” Edom said. “We?ll still attempt to do our job, but without the financial support, we?re going to be looking at things differently.”

Edom thought that if the referendum had passed, it would have reflected well on the University.

“I don?t know what we can do without some extra help and extra resources,” Edom said. “We?re very grateful for our IRA[Instructionally Related Activities] fund. We just want to do a good job, but there has got to be a solution for us.”

The Go Hornets measure was printed on the reverse side of the ballot so that students had to flip it over to vote yea or nay.

Undervote ballots, those that had no vote on the measure, totalled 565.

Edom did not think the measure?s ballot placement had anything to do with its failing.

“If people knew enough about it, they would have voted on it; I doubt it had anything to do with the measure being on the back,” Edom said.

ASI President Artemio Pimentel said the spirit groups could have campaigned better to get their measure passed.

“I think a major reason it failed was the amount of support behind it,” Pimentel said. “The way they campaigned was not effective; it was unfortunate to see only a few students out there campaigning.

There were no cheerleaders or dance team members campaigning.”

Pimentel believes that the message is clear.

“Students don?t want any kind of fee increase right now,” Pimentel said.

Pimentel said that the students are doing their best, and the administration should take the next step in helping the spirit programs.

“President [Donald] Gerth is supposed to reach out to the students and bring fame and a good image to Sac State,” Pimentel said.

“Students are doing their part, but since the measure failed, they are going to need some assistance now.”

Junior pre-nursing major Andrea Perry said the loss of the referendum is not going to affect her participation in the marching band.

“I hope we can try again and get it on the ballot next year,” Perry said. “I wanted the measure to pass so we can get more funds and be comparable to other universities. We just have to put in all the effort we can from now on.”

Edom said their next step is to move forward.

“It?s student money and the students have a right to decide to say what they want to do with it.”

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