University Senate

Towson State University president Hoke Smith said yesterday that he believes the suspension of the school's football program to help solve an athletic department budget deficit "makes a great deal of sense," but he will consider other alternatives if he is presented with them.An open forum will be held on campus this afternoon by the Intercollegiate Athletic Committee, which has recommended the suspension of football, to allow all interested parties to air their tTC views."I have said we've got a problem that we have to solve," said Smith, who will make the final decision.

When Towson State upgraded its football program to Divisio I-AA status in 1987, the Tigers had grand plans.They were going to expand Minnegan Stadium. Improved attendance would mean more scholarships and make Towson State attractive to the Yankee Conference. Athletic director Bill Hunter had a tentative schedule for 1992 that included Navy.It's safe to say those plans won't be realized any time soon.This is homecoming week at Towson State, but the Tigers aren't talking about Saturday's game against New Haven.

Dr. Hoke L. Smith, the president of Towson State University, said today that if he receives a proposal to suspend the school's football program, he probably will endorse it.Smith and athletic director Bill Hunter, however, both said that the proposal leaves open the possibility of Towson State's resuming a less expensive brand of football, possibly as early as 1992.The Intercollegiate Athletic Committee, which will hold an open forum tomorrow (University Union, Chesapeake Room, 2.35 p.m.)

This could well be the beginning of the week that was for Towson State football.The school's Intercollegiate Athletic Committee will hold an open forum Thursday to discuss the budget for intercollegiate athletics. Increased interest has been shown because of the possibility the school's football program will be sacked because of budget deficits.Last week, Dr. John Connolly, IAC chairman, told the school paper, The Towerlight, "If we are to make an informed recommendation to the University Senate, it should be with the benefit of hearing from all those concerned from both internal and external communities."