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THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2019
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Why are NCAA student-athletes not compensated pay for play? BY CONNOR TUSTIN Editor-in-Chief
Being a college student in the 21st century is a roller coaster ride consisting of many twists and turns. The constant ups and downs, whether it is academically or socially, can be a challenging roadblock to overcome. Each person has their own, unique college expense. For some, they are barely making it through each day, living minute by minute. Others look at college like it is the best time of their lives, partying the four years away. But one thing that can be agreed on between most college students is the struggle to make money during the long, drawnout semesters. For the thousands of NCAA student-athletes across the United States, this problem is most prevalent when the athletic season rolls around. In the spring of 2018, the NCAA men’s basketball tournament made $771 million alone. But how much of the $771 million actually went to the student-athletes that played in the tournament? The answer to that question is zero dollars. One of the more controversial topics in recent history regarding college athletics is the reasoning behind why student-athletes do not get paid. Both sides of the argument present intriguing points, but neither have come to a valid agreement on why exactly athletes should be paid. Early morning practices, full days in class and long nights of homework can certainly take its toll on any student. When student-athletes are in the thick of their sports season, free time is hard to find. Being a student-athlete entails hours of required practices, study sessions, and commitments that need to be met. But what is lost in all of this is the need to make money. Being a college student in
today’s world is not cheap. Whether it’s dropping $200 on a textbook or drowning in debt, students struggle to make enough money to make ends meet. For student-athletes, this problem can be a harsh reality. When a person’s life is already dedicated to their team and classwork, there isn’t much time to go and work even a part-time, minimum wage job. The severity of this problem can certainly differences between the three separate divisions of play in the NCAA, but most student-athletes would tend to agree that the issue exists. Andrew Sennett is a senior and captain of the Cabrini men’s cross country team. He believes that his current situation does grant him enough time to get what he needs to get done, thanks to the flexibility of his sport. “I do feel like I have enough time for academics, athletics and a paid job,” Sennett said. “I have done it the past few years, but it is easier for me than other sports because I can go out and run or workout on my own time if I need to. Other sports need to practice together to get better as a team, so they may have to work around a set practice schedule.” However, each studentathlete and sport comes with different requirements. Brittany McCullough, a senior on the Cabrini women’s soccer team, “believes finding time can be stressful.” “I feel like finding time for all three [academics, athletics, and a job] does get stressful, but it is possible with the right schedule,” McCullough said. “For instance, I work at the Dixon Center and the shifts are much shorter only two to three hours, so I am able to fit multiple shifts in during the week and make some money.” Although McCullough believes the situation would be much more difficult if she wasn’t
lucky enough to obtain an oncampus job. “If I had to work an offcampus job with longer shifts, I feel like it most likely would not work out in my favor, especially in season.” Division I student-athletes have many more commitments compared to those of a Division III student-athlete. In Division I, the student-athletes travel nationally, sometimes even internationally. At the Division II and III levels, student-athletes tend to travel much less, staying in more of a local vicinity to their college or university. Due to the largely noticeable differences across the three divisions, it makes matters hard when deciding how athletes can be fairly compensated across the board. For example, most Division I football teams have a significantly higher attendance rate compared to those of a Division III school. Coming with a higher attendance also means thousands of people watching on television. Therefore, clearly the Division I athlete is helping to bring in more money compared to the Division III athlete. Although she competes for her school just like Division I and II athletes, McCullough believes that if studentathletes were to get paid, those competing at a higher level deserve to make more. “Playing a sport for a D1 school is like having a job,” McCullough said. “It is expected that you perform at your highest, at all times, and show up for multiple practices a day. There is also a very short off-season for them. In all, it really is a job for them when they have to show up, play sports with high competition, and maintain high enough grades to continue to be academically eligible; the time to maintain a part-time job for them is impossible.” There are also issues when it comes to paying male versus female sports teams. Division
CABRINI ATHLETICS
Sennett running in the Atlantic East Conference Championships
I men’s basketball teams hold the Final Four in large football stadiums that can fit upwards of 100,000 people. Meanwhile, the women’s teams only get the opportunity to play in a regular arena, seating somewhere around 20,000 people. CABRINI ATHLETICS Clearly, Andrew Sennett headshot an additional 80,000+ people should get paid, the conversation would help to rake in more remains to be heavily favored by money than a sold out women’s those who oppose it. In a 2013 Final Four game. survey, 69 percent of people On the other side of the said that they were opposed argument, there are plenty of to student-athletes receiving people who strongly believe compensation for play. that NCAA student-athletes In that same survey, up to already have enough benefits. 53 percent of people claimed The biggest argument that can they would stop watching be used against student-athletes and attending college games getting paid is the scholarships altogether, depending on the they receive. rate of pay athletes would be Some student-athletes are receiving. getting a college education with Student-athletes are given a high discount, or sometimes plenty of opportunities each even for free, in return for and every day to help better play. The average full athletic themselves on and off the field. scholarship at an NCAA Division Even if money is not an option I university is about $65,000 to pay student-athletes, there for a college with higher-end are other ways that they can be tuition. This scholarship includes compensated. $45,000 for tuition fees, $20,000 “I believe that college athletes for room, board and books. should not be paid a salary like However, the amount professional athletes. But I do each student-athlete receives think athletes should get food, continues to dwindle thanks to scholarships, equipment and factors like school enrollment other academic resources,” and which NCAA division each Sennett said. school stands in. Division III After speaking to an NCAA athletes do not even get the employee, who prefers her name opportunity to receive any kind remain anonymous for security, of athletic scholarships. NCAA student-athletes will McCullough believes that most likely not see any kind of no matter the division, studentcompensation for play in the athletes should all have access to near future. athletic scholarships. “Over the many conversations “Athletes should be I’ve had with various NCAA staff compensated for their play members across all levels, the through scholarship no matter general consensus is that no what level they play for,” student-athlete will be paid,” McCullough said. “As studentan employee of the NCAA said. athletes, we bring the school “Do they work hard for those revenue in ways that they championships? Absolutely. Do wouldn’t receive otherwise, they help fund so much? Yes. But whether it be donations, your job as a student-athlete is to fundraisers, selling sportswear, be a student because getting an etc.” education is the most important The other argument that is part of the NCAA.” posed is a simple one. StudentWherever you may stand in athletes have made the decision the conversation, one thing is themselves to dedicate their for sure, it doesn’t seem like time to be an NCAA athlete. there will be a solution any time No one is forcing them to soon. This topic may be widely sacrifice the ample amount addressed by the public and of time it takes to compete at student-athletes themselves, the collegiate level. Therefore, but it is not a concern within the why should student-athletes offices of the NCAA. be compensated for something they voluntarily do? Although it may seem like TUSTIN.CONNOR1013@GMAIL.COM many think student-athletes