TASK FORCE PLEDGES OPEN-DOOR POLICY.

Byline: Rizza Yap Daily News Staff Writer

The Cal State Northridge Task Force on Intercollegiate Athletics (TFIA) will approach its mission with an open-door policy, said TFIA chair Dr. Keith Richman.

Richman emphasized that the task force's charge to review athletic issues and design a longterm plan for the sports program will include participation and input from students, faculty, administrators, alumni and the community.

Sen. Cathie Wright, R-Simi Valley, who spearheaded the effort to include a one-time state contribution to reinstate four Northridge sports cut earlier this year, said the task force's accessibility is welcome news.

The group met for the first time Monday night.

``I don't appreciate anything being done behind closed doors and I hope that doesn't happen here,'' Wright told the task force on Monday. ``I'm going to keep an eye on you because your report is going to be considered when we speak about the state budget next year. So I'll be watching.''

Wright's brief address was followed by lengthy applause and cheers. More than 75 attended the meeting, half of whom were students.

The task force, mandated by the legislature when it earmarked $586,000 of the state budget to fund four men's sports - volleyball, baseball, swimming and soccer - will examine issues that led Northridge to make cuts in its athletic program.

The group will submit to university president Blenda J. Wilson a summary of their findings and a preliminary long-range plan for athletics by December. The university, however, is not required to implement the proposal. A similar report will be sent to the state Legislature by March 1998.

``There is no question that this is an ambitious undertaking,'' said Richman, a former Birmingham High baseball player. ``My goal is to gain as much student participation - both men and women - in an athletic program that is financially stable, meets the requirements of Title IX, and remains in a solid financial position. None of us want another task force on athletics in another year, so we hope to solve this now.''

For efficiency, Richman suggested the task force form subcommittees to tackle various issues. The subcommittees will be divided among task-force members and headed by the following: department of finance chair William Jennings, the budget; history professor James Sefton, the athletic program's recent history; CSUN Community Advisory Board member Sharon Schuster, gender-equity requirements; intramurals coordinator Trent Morgan, conference affiliation; interfraternity council president Joseph Dagata, constituency and communications, and alumnus Phil Blazer, financial support.