Sonoma State discontinues all athletic programs amid massive budget cuts

Sonoma State University announced on Wednesday that the school would be discontinuing all athletics and eliminating multiple majors and faculty members amid a slew of budget cuts. 

All 11 division II teams will cease operations at the end of the 2024-25 school year. Art history, dance economics, earth and environmental sciences are among the degree programs being eliminated. In addition, 46 faculty members contracts will not be renewed for the 2025-26 school year, officials said in a statement to the campus community. 

Student athletes told KTVU they found out in an email that was sent to all staff and students on Wednesday morning. 

"There is a lot of disbelief," said Finn Whalen, a freshman on the Sonoma State baseball team. "Our season is ramping up and in about a week we were getting ready to go and all of a sudden it's our last season."

Whalen said there was a tense meeting in the campus ballroom with the university's interim president, student athletes and coaches. 

"It was very hot," Whalen said. "People were not happy I'm sure the president felt the heat. There was a lot of very angry student athletes there."

He said many in the room wanted to know when university leadership came to the decision, because many who play spring sports could have transferred out at the semester break if they were given ample notice. 

School officials said the university is facing a budget deficit of nearly $24 million. 

In the email sent to students, the Interim President Emily Cutrer said:

"I know this is difficult news for our campus community. I am keenly aware of its human impact, and how individuals, families, relationships, and communities are affected by such news."

Student athletes will remain eligible to finish out their scholarship terms, as long as they remain academically eligible. 

Despite the news, athletes like Whalen and his teammates are choosing to stay positive. 

"We were given one last opportunity to compete for a championship," Whalen siad. "Everybody wants to go all in and make this the best year Sonoma Baseball has ever had."

Bay City News contributed to this report. 

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