Saint Guinefort
Verified User
In many of the largest universities, sports is a moneymaker.
Yeah and that's a real shame. My old undergrad alma mater recently went through a process of slashing their departments to save $$$. They were looking at wholesale elimination of several full majors. But the Athletics department didn't have to cut one thing and, in fact, got more money. Only problem is that school is NOT a powerhouse of athletics. They are a minor player in an even more minor conference. But althletics MUST BE KEPT SACRED.
I think athletic scholarships might be a good deal for people who may have no other options for getting into college and I hope (hope) that a lot of the student athletes actually DO get benefit from the university. But I also am pretty sure the education of said athletes is NOT priority to the university. They are effectively underpaid employees.
When I was a TA back in grad school we often had student athletes in the intro geology classes we all taught. And they had a TON of support from the football program. Their performance we monitored and help was provided. I actually felt sorry for the NON-ATHLETES because they were on their own to make it though "rocks for jocks". Not because the student athletes' life of the mind was valued, but if they got bad grades they might risk being off the team and being unable to play and fulfill their fiducial role to the university.