The state of academics and athletics in the Aughts

By Bianca Rugimbana

Coaches and the media are consistent in making sure that the focus is on athletics and individuals are then expected to just “maintain” their studies as best they can. Is this legitimate? Isn’t this completely contradictory to the purposes of universities and colleges? The media seems to do more harm than good and in particular they fuel the fire for colleges and universities, in particular sports departments and coaches to allow students to forgo class for sporting events and spend more time on the playing field then in the classroom. It may be slightly comprehendible if individuals were called “athlete students”, however, what hope and guidance do young individuals have if they are not sure what path to choose and what will suffice the expectations and beliefs of professors, family, the media and their sporting team and coaches? It becomes a challenge for students alone to be able to decide what their future should entail and the focuses of these students are then disheveled to the point where they begin to lack concentration and ambition in the classroom and focus all of their attention on sports as a way of running away from the responsibility of academics.

Not only does this appear to be a growing issue but it also sheds light on the fact, that this is caused by the media and colleges and universities. The question now is, what can be done to alter this perception of a student athlete? What can be done to create more involvement in classes and academics? Not just attendance in class and maintenance of a solid GPA based on enforcement of coaches and faculty, but more so what can spark the personal interest of student athletes to want to excel in their academics and spend an equal amount of time on their studies and also their sport, this is what needs to be answered. Once this is answered, the concern surrounding this debate may be much more comprehendible.