‘Fuzzy math’ adding to UNM money troubles

UNFORTUNATELY, THE WAY athletic “scholarships” are handled will guarantee that the Athletic Department can never make money. To UNM there is no such thing as giving an athlete a free education for his or her contribution to sports. The athletes are not paid for playing, yet they are the ones who people pay good money to watch. But, the university doesn’t actually give them a “free” education.

The Athletic Department has to pay UNM for the scholarship! I have no idea what the amount is, but my guess is it isn’t cheap. I can certainly understand if UNM charges the Athletic Department for the cost of books and dorm rooms. Those are items that UNM has paid for and should be compensated. But exactly why does the Athletic Department “pay” UNM for the cost of the tuition? They didn’t spend any money as a result of giving this scholarship, so why are they asking to be reimbursed by the Athletic Department? Did they have to hire additional professors or councilors to accommodate these athletes? Don’t think so! It’s no wonder the Athletic Department is always in debt.

This is what most of us would refer to as “fuzzy math.” You have one department of an institution paying another for money that was never actually spent! Perhaps this makes sense to the Board or Regents or someone else, but I’m at a loss to understand why this has to be done this way. Why all the financial “dancing?” Can’t the university absorb the cost of an education in exchange for the money, publicity and good will these athletes bring to the institution?

I realize this is a common practice, but perhaps this explains why only a handful of universities have a ”profitable” athletic department. DAN O’CONNOR Albuquerque