Sports are a very important part in students’ lives. A lot of universities have athletic programs to encourage students to spend their time in something good. Also, they use these players to benefit the university by winning titles and making it well-known in the whole country which will give so many advantages to the institution. Therefore, universities are giving athletic scholarships to athletes and accepting some of them who are not qualified academically just to play with its collegiate teams. This shows the importance of college sports and having strong teams that can gain benefits to the institution. Despite the fact that athletic students get free education, they are facing a lot of difficulties in their academic performance and their …show more content…
daily lives. Not getting paid, having a busy schedule, and performing poorly in school are main issues that athletic students have. So, because they have a busy schedule, it is very hard for them to work while participating in collegiate teams. Therefore, athletic students are being exploited by universities which get many benefits from their athletes and do not treat them the way that they should be treated. The first supporting argument for exploiting athletic students is that universities do not give these athletes salaries.
As we all know, student athletes who play football or basketball with collegiate teams make millions of dollars for their institution by working hard to achieve trophies. Also, they make the name of their institution very popular in the country which will encourage more students to enroll in this school. So, that will bring a very big amount of money for the university. However, these athletes receive only scholarships not like professional players. For example, NBA players who also make millions of dollars for their teams get very high salaries in return to what they have accomplished. So, it is unfair for student athletes that they do not get paid compared to professional players. On the other hand, these institutions give couches much more money than student athletes who are the only reason for earing the money. For instance, according to Juan Duran a student athlete at the University of Bridgeport, “in some universities, the couches are the highest paid people in these institutions”. This leads us to figure out that these universities are exploiting student athletes by not giving them what they deserve. Therefore, student athletes should get paid for participating in college sports because they make money for the school and they have busy schedules which do not allow them to
work. The second way of exploiting student athletes is that a lot of universities do not concern athletes’ academic performances. Participating in collegiate teams plays an essential role in educational attainment for athletes. However, there are universities that consider student athletes as only athletes not student by making them eligible for participating in collegiate teams and ignoring their studies. According to Krystal K. Beamon in his article “"Used Goods": Former African American College Student-Athletes' Perception of Exploitation by Division I Universities”, “universities that provide opportunities to African American males to attend college through athletic scholarships by emphasizing the importance of the athletic role over the academic one, leaving the student-athletes feeling exploited,”. For that reason, the student athletes’ educational attainment is not as high as non-athletes students in these universities. Also, it makes athletes think that their studies are not important for their universities and they just want them to perform well with collegiate teams. Moreover, universities are not preparing student athletes to be successful academically. For example, there are some universities that are practicing unethical behaviors toward student athletes by giving them credits for classes that they have not taken. Due to that, student athletes are receiving very poor education and they are not able to succeed in their studies. In addition, couches are forcing athletes to spend many hours training to improve their skills which makes them have less time for studying. So, this shows how exploitation of student athletes exists by ignoring their academically performance. Furthermore, graduation rates for student-athletes are very low compared to not-athletic student in many universities. Since students with athletic scholarships are under pressure to perform well in collegiate teams, this might lead them not to pay attention to their studies which makes them get very low GPA or results a lack of graduation for them. For example, according to the article “Are the Flagship State Universities Exploiting Black Athletes?”, spending time on flying for games, sitting for T.V interviews, and holding conferences are main factors of having poor graduation rate for athletic students in flagship universities. So, this example shows that student-athletes are not having time to study, and that affects their academic performance. Also, these universities do not consider educating athletes well, but they do their best to make them eligible for participating with their collegiate teams because these athletes generate revenue from winning titles for their institutions. In some universities, student-athletes cannot go on graduating and face many difficulties academically. For instance, at the University of California at Berkeley, the graduation rate of black non-athletes is 67%, but black student-athletes have a very low graduation rate which is 43 percent (“Are the Flagship State Universities Exploiting Black Athlets?” 40). For that reason, participating with collegiate teams might lead these athletes to fail in their studies at these flagship state universities. Therefore, many student-athletes cannot graduate on time because of the exploitive behavior by their universities. However, some people might argue that universities do not exploit student athletes because they receive full scholarships, housing, and free food. Athletic scholarships is very helpful for young people who do not have enough money to pay the high tuitions. For example, a study has found that athletic scholarships have helped more than 90% of the participants to enter college which they could not attend without these scholarships due to financial reasons (Beamon 362). This demonstrates that participating in college sports is beneficial for student athletes because they receive free education. That seems to be true, but these universities are giving the scholarships from the revenue that these athletes made for their institutions. Also, some scholarships cover only the tuitions which requires student athletes to pay for other things. For instance, at the University of Bridgeport, student athletes face lack of money because most of them do not work and their scholarships do not cover housing and books (Duran). For that reason, free education is not enough for them since they have to pay for other needs. Therefore, student athletes need to be paid for their time and effort that they spend in college sports. There are so many ways that show how universities are exploiting athletic students, such as ignoring their academic performance, low rate of graduation for student athletes, and not getting paid. Due to earning huge revenue, universities gain much more benefits than student athletes from participating in college sports. So, universities should do something in return to what these athletes have done for their universities like encouraging them to graduate by preparing them academically and giving salaries to them. Hopefully, universities stop exploiting student athletes and give them what they deserve. Works Cited “Are the Flagship State Universities Exploiting Black Athletes?”. The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education 48 (2005): 40–41. Jstor. Web. 10 Nov. 2015. Beamon, Krystal K. “"Used Goods": Former African American College Student-athletes' Perception of Exploitation by Division I Universities”. The Journal of Negro Education 77.4 (2008):352–364. Jstor. Web. 11 Nov. 2015. Duran, Juan. Personal interview. 10 Nov. 2015.
They do not face problems of debt and tuition to the extent that the normal college student faces. Student-athletes are fairly compensated through publicity and financial benefits, and the NCAA should continue to refrain from paying them. The varying size and interest levels of universities makes it almost impossible to fairly pay all athletes. In order to avoid problems like those exhibited by Northwestern’s football team, who recently tried to unionize, all athletes would need to be paid equally. The excitement brought on by college sports is immense, and problems created due to paying athletes would only hurt the tradition and charisma that college athletics offer. In conclusion, College athletes are students and amateurs, not employees. “Remember student comes first in student-athlete”
Those who play popular and highly competitive college sports are treated unfairly. The colleges and universities with successful sports like football and basketball receive millions of dollars in television and ad space revenues, so do the National Collegiate Athletic Association, which is the governing body of big time college sports. Many coaches are also paid over $1 million per year. Meanwhile, the players that help the colleges receive these millions of dollars are forbidden to receive any gifts or money for their athletic achievements and performances. As a solution college athletes ...
College athletes are undoubtedly some of the hardest working people in the world. Not only are they living the life of an average student, they also have a strenuous schedule with their specific sport. One of the most discussed topics in the world of college athletics is whether or not student-athletes should be paid money for playing sports. The people who disagree with the idea have some good arguments to make. Primarily that the athletes get to go to school for free for playing sports. Another argument is that if student-athletes were to get paid then it would ruin the amateurism of college sports. People who are against paying the athletes do not want to see the young people become focused on money. “Paying student-athletes would dramatically shift their focus away from where it should be - gaining knowledge and skills for life after college” (Lewis and Williams). This is very understandable because one of the biggest reasons college sports are so popular is because the athletes play for school pride and for bragging rights. They play because they enjoy the game, not because it is their job. Most people that disagree with the idea of paying the athletes fail to realize what really goes on behind the scenes. At most Universities around the country the bulk of the income the school receives is brought in through the athletic programs. In fact the football and basketball teams usually bring in enough money to completely pay for the rest of the athletic programs all together. To get a better understanding of how much has changed in the world of college sports a little history must be learned.
College athletes attend post-secondary schools in order to receive an education and to participate in sports. “Student athletes participate in an organized competitive sport sponsored by the educational institution in which he or she is enrolled. Student athletes must typically balance the roles of being a full-time student and a full-time athlete” (“Student athlete” 1). Additionally, some people believe athletes should receive a salary. However, paying college athletes hurts the school, the sports, and the athletes.
Athletes everywhere complain and gripe about how little money they have. What they don’t realize is, it’s not just them. Most college students do not have a sufficient amount of money that they can buy whatever they want. It is outrageous that athletes believe they are entitled to accommodations because they play sports. To play a sport at the collegiate level is a privilege (Top 10 Reasons College Athletes Should Not Be Paid). Students that participate in athletics should not receive any payment because they are receiving tons of benefits, free tuition, and this would extend the talent gap.
The impact of college athletic programs on academics has always been a controversial and contentious topic. It seems that athletic programs have some contemplative effects on academics of colleges and universities. Different people have different ideas about how college athletic programs should be carried on. College presidents, administrations, student athletes, parents of students, and athletic trainers are along with these people who point out different facts about the fallouts of athletics on academics. A bunch of people suggest that athletic programs should be dropped from college system, while another group suggests that athletic programs should be taken care with more advertence. An analysis on the effects of college athletics on academics has two personal approaches: college athletics undermine academics, and athletics amplify academic experience.
Today there are over 450,000 college athletes and the National College Athletics Association (NCAA) faces a difficult decision on whether or not college athletes should be paid. Many people believe that they should and many believe they should not. There are several benefits that college’s athletes receive for being a student athlete. Why should they receive even more benefits than their scholarship and numerous perks?
Ever since college students started playing sports, back in 1879 when Harvard played Yale in the first collegiate sports game, the question of whether college athletes should be paid was addressed. From that point on athletes, coaches, and college administrators have brought forward points agreeing or disagreeing with the notion of paying college students. The students argue that they deserve to be paid due to the revenue that they bring for the college and because of the games they play and the championships they win. At first the idea of paying college athletes was out of the question, but now the argument has gone from a simple yes or no to a heated debate. Since college athletes are given a free education, they should not also be paid.
Student athletes should not be paid more than any other student at State University, because it implies that the focus of this university is that an extracurricular activity as a means of profit. Intercollegiate athletics is becoming the central focus of colleges and universities, the strife and the substantial sum of money are the most important factors of most university administration’s interest. Student athletes should be just as their title states, students. The normal college student is struggling to make ends meet just for attending college, so why should student athletes be exempt from that? College athletes should indeed have their scholarships cover what their talents not only athletically but also academically depict. Unfortunately, the disapproval resides when students who are making leaps academically are not being offered monetary congratulations in comparison to student athletes. If the hefty amount of revenue that colleges as a conglomerate are making is the main argument for why athletes should be paid, then what is to stop the National Clearinghouse from devising unjust standards? Eventually if these payments are to continue, coaches, organizations, and the NCAA Clearinghouse will begin to feel that “c...
College athletes should be paid! College athletes are often considered to be some of the luckiest students in the world. Most of them receiving all inclusive scholarships that cover all the costs of their education. They are also in a position to make a reputation for themselves in the sporting world preparing them for the next step. The ongoing debate whether student athletes should be paid has been going on for years. These athletes bring in millions of dollars for their respective schools and receive zero in return. Many will argue that they do receive payment, but in reality it is just not true. Costs associated with getting a college education will be discussed, information pertaining to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), and benefits student athletes receive. First, I’ll start with costs associated with college and most of all why student athletes should be paid!
Should college athletes get paid while in school? The schools are allowing the athletes to enroll because of their athletic talent of playing football. They got his uniform and practice gear covered because of high academic achievements. Also, they are looked at by college scouts based on what they see on a football field. College football should be paid because of the time and energy they devote on and off of the football field, so they can play at the college/university he desires.
Did you know that 10% of all College Football Players sustain brain injury and an average of 20,718 football players are getting hurt each year from different things like broken bones, torn muscles, and concussions. College Football Players should get paid because not only do they have to train for it, they are basically working and giving their money to the coaches and the school that they play for. Also, they hardly can make money because they have lots of homework or have to be on the field for practice so unless they have scholarships which might not last them their whole time in college, so they are going to be in debt when they come out of college if they don't have a career in the NFL.
Ever since I was in Elementary School I have wanted to go to a college or university and compete against other schools in sports. Recently I have leaned more towards going somewhere on a scholarship for basketball or track & field, and as I have looked through schools that can give me a good education and also make me a good athlete. I have also gone through the news lately and seen all the sports news about Universities, such as the Arizona Wildcats, that have been accused of paying up-and-coming freshman players to join their teams and organizations, which is not allowed in the NCAA. After hearing accusations of teams paying players it has made me wonder, should colleges or universities be allowed to pay student-athletes to play for them?
Do you not wish you could play a sport for a couple more years after high school? That contingency would be an opportunity most students would love to enjoy. “Playing college sports is about getting to play the game you have an unexplainable obsession with for four more years. And that is a privilege, not an occupation” (Murphy, 2). Many people think these athletes should get money for all the work they put into these sports, but there are many reasons against this opinion. Although the argument is that athletes at a collegiate level do not have as much time to work for extra money like other college students, college athletes should not be paid for choosing to play a college sport.
Sports have been viewed as hobbies or after school activities. Now people view sports as full on careers and dream jobs. Colleges have begun supporting this new view come true by giving full or partial scholarships to sport’s athletes. Already a big compensation , it is not the only benefit athletes receive. They now consider offering college athletes a certain pay for their representation and participation in selected college sports. For a high school athlete this appears as a dream come true. On the other hand , for an athlete who depends strictly on his grades to enter college , this would feel unfair. Athletes who represent colleges , should not be paid due to the grand compensation of a scholarship.