A photocopy of a 146-word essay, written with exceptionally poor grammar by a North Carolina University student, has been making the rounds of the Internet. The scandal? The essay has been marked with an A- grade. Outrage was sparked, whistle-blowers came forward and details were uncovered. Oh, yeah — I forgot to mention the essay was written by an athlete.
This story has been unearthed during a time when the discussion about paying student-athletes is at a high point, when the debate occupies a lot of air time on sports television stations and radio shows. Those in favor of compensating student-athletes say it is only fair that they be rewarded beyond simple recognition for their accomplishments and hard work. Currently, only universities, sports directors and the NCAA reap any benefit from the dedication the student-athletes put toward their respective sports. Of course, that is to say nothing of the scholarships they receive or the apparent leniency they’re shown in the classroom.
Those who oppose compensating student-athletes put a lot of emphasis on universities’ ability to recruit. Opposition tends to stem from the fact that if universities paid their athletes, it would create an oligarchy in the sports world in which those with substantial financial means would dominate. However, this begs the question: What is the point of a university?
Personally, I believe that far too much importance is placed on college sports. A university, as it stands, seems to be a sports training facility with a heavy financial arm masquerading as an institution of higher learning. As is obvious from the North Carolina case, as well as the fact that in the 2012 fiscal year the NCAA had an economic surplus of $71 million dollars, according to USA Today, fiscal concerns are paramount to universities. It further speaks volumes that the highest paid employee at our prestigious university is football coach Kyle Whittingham, according to the Salt Lake Tribune.
Any way you slice it, the organizations are making money hand over fist off of student-athletes, while often sacrificing their education in the process. Mary Willingham, the whistle-blower in the North Carolina University scandal, stated that near illiterate athletes were treated to courses specially designed for them to keep their eligibility. Either way, whether in terms of money or education, the student is being robbed.
If student-athletes were employees of the school, they would be eligible for health insurance, something they desperately need in the sports world. They would also have more to show at the end of their college tenure than a trophy, some memories and a communications degree. And with the amount of money everyone seems to be making, it would definitely appear feasible.
I’m not necessarily advocating outright employment of student-athletes. I’m rather making an attempt to stir the discussion of the purpose of the athletic programs, as well as question the reasoning behind not compensating them. There is so much money being made off the hard work of some of your classmates, so is it fair that they receive neither a benefit nor a decent education? The only people who seem to be benefiting in the situation is the institutions, not the players themselves.
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