The Camosun College Student Society (CCSS) approved a motion at its November 4, 2019 board meeting to provide a temporary $25-per-day per diem for food and incidentals for every Camosun Charger student athlete while they are travelling for games. This will be added to the current $15 daily per diem from the Chargers for a total of $40 per day. The CCSS’ portion of the money—a total of $20,730—will last for the duration of this Chargers season.
“We found out that the athletes were only getting $15 a day when they travel, and honestly, that’s not enough, because what can you get for $15?” says CCSS external executive Fillette Umulisa. “We [believe] that students should not have to pay from their own pockets when representing the college.”
Umulisa says that this is not simply an act of goodwill by the CCSS, and that the CCSS wants to encourage Camosun to increase the subsidy.
“These students represent [Camosun] at a high level, and if they win, it’s the college winning, and they should be treated better than $15 a day for food.”
Camosun Chargers recreation and athletics coordinator Graham Matthews says that the per diem is considered a supplement to the athletes’ own money.
“It would just be an add-on at this time. As much as we want to provide as best we can, that’s what we thought was the going rate,” he says, referring to when the per diem was initially established (Matthews is unsure of the year the rate was put in place).
Umulisa believes that fully covering food costs should be considered an investment in the success of college teams, similar to paying for athletes’ transportation when they travel for the college.
“You can’t just eat a sandwich and expect to perform,” she says, asserting that good food is a necessity, not a privilege. “I do feel that it is a very unfair treatment towards our athletes. Camosun College and the [Camosun College] Foundation should [step] up; if they can’t find a solution, they can fundraise for it.”
Chargers men’s basketball forward Shaquille Maharaj feels that the College has the means to carry on with a $40 per diem after the CCSS stops contributing, especially considering there are only five Chargers teams.
“Sometimes we take a look at these fundraisers and we’re like, jeez, that’s a lot of money, and even if we just had half of that, it could be a huge contribution to Chargers Athletics,” he says. “Camosun could be more focus-driven toward taking care of Chargers Athletics, because there are only a few of us who are representing the college, and we really want to do our best.”
Maharaj says that he really appreciates the student society helping out the Camosun student athletes with the money.
“That’s all we can really ask for as athletes—someone with a voice vouching for us,” he says. “But look at our athletic department size compared to every other school; I think [Camosun] could take care of them a little bit better, because it’s only a short season.”
Matthews says that Camosun is hoping to increase the budget for the player’s per diems.
“I have to talk with our administration and see how we can make that increase consistent from here on in,” he says. “We’re just very pleased at the support of the CCSS helping out their fellow students, and we’re always trying to provide the best we can for our athletes.”
Maharaj says that he is relieved and excited about the per diem raise and believes this will be a boon for the Chargers.
“Now, we can actually go out and get a good meal before and after a game, and there’s not so much stress,” he says. “We really need to optimize our recovery and nutrition, because once you’ve had your final practice, that’s the only thing that’s really going to contribute to performing better.”