They’re students, not employees
College athletes should not be paid salaries or allowed to unionize
The beginning of a new academic year is a thrilling time for college athletes on campuses across the country. Thousands of young men and women will compete in fall sports, from football and field hockey to cross country, soccer and volleyball.
They are diverse and they come from all over the world, but they have one thing in common. They are college students chasing their dreams and working hard to earn degrees.
While this is the reality, our critics often don’t see it that way and they have sued in court, claiming college athletes are exploited. They claim the system isn’t fair. They want to dismantle intercollegiate athletics and replace it with a flawed model that would professionalize sports played by college students.
Critics and plaintiffs’ lawyers say students who play sports should be paid salaries. They favor allowing the students to unionize. They see them as employees.
And that is where our critics have it wrong. College athletes are not employees. They are students. It’s that simple.
The cynical view critics have comes from a distorted picture created by the relatively small number of athletes who leave college early to go pro. They mistakenly believe many of our athletes are merely taking detours through college, just waiting to get drafted.
The truth is less than 2 percent of students who will play college football this fall will be drafted into the NFL. Even fewer will ever play a single down. The numbers are similar in college basketball.
Put another way, about 98 percent of the college students who play football or basketball will go pro in something other than sports. That is why the vast ma- jority of student-athletes we see are serious about academics and sports. They know college athletics is preparing them for successful lives and careers because of the experiences they enjoy and the education they receive.
As commissioners, we have an obligation to help students be successful in college and in life.
We take that charge seriously, and we are proud of the work being done on all of our campuses to give our athletes every chance to succeed in the classroom and in the community.
The critics and the lawyers who want to tear down college sports would have a much different picture if they were to visit our campuses. They would have a different view if they talked to the many students who take advantage of the incredible support system in place to help them succeed academically, socially and athletically.
They would not see athletes being exploited. They would see young men and women from all over the world taking their studies and their sports seriously. They would see mentors and tutors, coaches and career counselors, nutritionists and administrators doing everything they can to equip them with the help they need to reach the finish line that really counts: graduation day.
While we oppose paying students and allowing them to form unions because of the irreparable damage it would do to college sports, we believe in reform.
The real story of reform is not the kind of story that goes viral. But these reforms are having a real impact on the day-to-day lives of thousands of college athletes.
Our students receive more benefits than ever before. On top of scholarships that fund tuition, room and board, they now receive stipends for living expenses based on the full “cost of attendance.” Many enjoy unlimited meals and can get help if they need it with everything from winter coats and eye exams to transportation to and from home in case of family emergencies.
Starting this fall, athletes will have more time off from their sports to study, work internships or rest. They can practice and compete knowing their scholarships will never be taken away if they are injured or are not performing to the level they had hoped. All of those positive changes are a result of reform over the past three years.
In the debate over intercollegiate athletics, we should never lose sight of the value of a college degree. College graduates will earn up to $800,000 more over their careers than those who only have high school diplomas. Think of the impact that can have on first-generation college students and their families.
College athletes who earn their degrees with the help of scholarships have another advantage over their peers who don’t play sports. Many athletes graduate without a dime of debt at a time when the majority of college students are burdened by loans just as they are launching their careers.
The system may not be perfect. We will continue to evolve and do what must be done to preserve the integrity and ensure the future of intercollegiate athletics.
The young men and women who come with dreams of competing for championships and then leaving with diplomas in their hands deserve nothing less.