Should College Athletes Be Paid?
By: Khayla L. Carway
Imagine getting a full paid scholarship athletic to the college of your dreams, who offer you a opportunity of a lifetime they have a huge gymnasium, personal trainers, and a huge lounge room for the players. Then you remember that since you will always training for games and making sure you get 75 and above averages in your classes to keep your scholarship that, how you’ll find a way to work a part time job within your busy schedule. Transportation isn’t free, food isn’t, nothing is free when it comes to health and decent living the two most important things in life. wouldn’t you feel as if there is no point of going to a school and not being to support yourself. that’s how college students will feel if not paid, college students get to be able to provide decent living for themselves.
In “Personnel Foul:its time to share the wealth to college athletes”by Warren K.Zola states “For decades, the National Collegiate Athletic Association has artificially restricted compensation to a labor force — athletes — that generates billions in revenue while redirecting profits to athletic departments. The athletes aren’t paid because the NCAA has randomly defined what it means to be an amateur: They can accept certain things, like tuition, but not others, like royalties from jersey sales. You’re an amateur because you aren’t paid. You’re not paid because you’re an amateur. That’s the essence of the argument, and it’s looking increasingly hypocritical.”
As you see the NCCA officials see’s college athlete’s amateurs but truly these college athletes work as hard as athletes in NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, etc. The only difference is that these students also have to worry about school,if failing at becoming successful athlete they’ll have to get an education to get a decent job, and if this Athlete fails to get an above 75 might have their scholarship provoked. Another problem is what if this student isn’t as smart or bright as others students and all they’re good at is football or basketball, or any other sport they play, this would make their life harder. Athlete scholar’s aren’t like Academic scholar Because are able to get a part time job and be able to support themselves.
“As a graduate student at UNC-Greensboro, Willingham researched the reading levels of 183 UNC-Chapel Hill athletes who played football or basketball from 2004 to 2012. She found that 60% read between fourth- and eighth-grade levels. Between 8% and 10% read below a third-grade level.”
A small reading from “ccn: some college athletes play like adults, read like 5th grader’s” by Sara Ganim, talks about how college Athlete’s are skipping classes and are below reading level. All the external objects that will get you thinking why should these students be getting paid, getting diplomas and graduate when they aren’t even learning. Being an athlete isn’t easy. You have to train and practice all the time in order for you to be good at what you do.
In “College Athletes say they need to cover basic cost of living” by Ray Glier, Chris Conley, a wide receiver at the University of Georgia, said not all students in need are eligible for a Pell Grant. Conley is one of those students caught in the middle between family income and the threshold to qualify for a grant. Conely states:
“When a coach is concerned about job security and a school wants to win a championship.”
“If it is a large-revenue sport, you are pushed to put more time into the athletic side of things, and it doesn’t shorten the amount of time you have to spend on school. You are putting extra hours in the film room, extra hours in the weight room, extra hours getting treatment. You end up doing all those things, and you get back to your room at such a late time, you need to study. There is no time for a job.”
For athlete’s like Conely its hard for them to make money, when it comes to sports like this it’s like working a job, an athlete job. you have to train, practice, and show integrity for what you’re doing. Imagine doing all of that without being paid, these students aren’t going to do when they are hungry, and miss their dining hours, and be able after practice to get a drink from the market without money.
In Conclusion College Athlete's should get paid so, those students will be able to support themselves, and have a decent living themselves. Because, students should able to have a stable life while learn and have an education.