Student Athletes or Athlete Students?

By Bianca Rugimbana

It is amazing how the term “student athletes” is thrown around with such pride and stature, however when we think of “student athletes”, we typically focus on the athlete part more so then the student part. Sporting teams are the pride and joy of most college festivities and events however, in relation to the academic side of events there is a slight unevenness about the situation. Newspapers, magazines, radio websites and television, all highlight the excitement and progress of sporting events. Throughout the towns and cities of colleges and universities and also throughout the college, the various athletes have been paraded and commended on their abilities, talents and successes.

However, more so on the publicity aspect of sports, the media coverage has continued to focus on sports and what it not only brings these individuals but also what sense of involvement, excitement, unity and belonging it brings to the community and the colleges and universities. This usually follows traditions in which the community, faculty, coaches and student body place their own expectations on the athletes. On a national level, according to Adena Andrews, journalist and author of the article, “When did college athletics become more important than college itself?”, Andrews points out similar remarks to those mentioned. Stating, “University of Texas at Austin is a perfect example of a school that may be over stepping its boundaries with such a lavish purchase for the athletic department. University of Texas at Austin is a state school that recently increased tuition and told students and taxpayers the money would go toward better professors and programming. I don't think an $8 million TV set was listed in the tuition package.”

This adds to the argument that sports are becoming more dramatic each year, as young talented individuals are beginning to go to college just for the idea of becoming superstars and receiving an added bonus of scholarship money paying for their tuition. It has even gotten to the point, where students are leaving college to play professional sports, rather than completing their college education. The concern really boils down to what is the fairness and even necessity in calling these individuals “student athletes” when clearly the priority lies in the athletic aspect, not the class schedules and significance of attending class and receiving an education. The media always states the importance of an education and in fact it is frowned upon when students do not attend school or choose to drop out of school for athletic pursuits. However, this is completely contradictory based on the fact that universities and the media are promoting this concept of a strong culture of athletics which is dominating school and an education. For example; throughout Georgetown College news and information, athletic scores and information is provided more so than what education updates and progress has been made at the college.

This seems to be an issue in which many colleges may be following the same footsteps as the University of Texas, as athletes all strive to travel overseas and become professional athletes even if it means forgoing their schooling plans. Another journalist, William Friday, from the Matrix: Magazine for Leaders in Education, stated that, “the ugly disciplinary incidents, outrageous academic fraud, dismal graduation rates and uncontrolled expenditures surrounding college sports reflect what many have rightly characterized as "an entertainment industry" that is not only the antithesis of academic values but is "corrosive and corruptive to the academic enterprise." This leaves people to wonder how much help athletics really are to the future of these individuals and are colleges going too far to reveal the talents and successes of these young students? It lies in the hands and within the culture of universities and colleges. How long before it stops being tradition and starts being expectation? Only time will tell