College/University Atheletics Discussion

[RedLeader]

This is largely a North American discussion, but those from other places are welcome to join in.

What are your views about the inclusion of atheletic teams in colleges & universities? In specific, but not limited to:

• Do you believe collegess & universities should include atheletic programs?
• Have you ever participated in student atheletics?
• Do you think there exists a bias toward or against student atheletes (either in tuition/scholorships/acceptance, grades, or otherwise), and is this justifiable IYO?
• If you are from a school which excludes atheletics, do you think it works well? Did you choose to go to this place (at least partially) for this reason?

If you guys want to include high school topics, that's cool. The ONLY thing I ask is that this not drift into a topic about atheletic drug testing.

I will give my personal opinion later, but I'd like to hear what everyone's got to say!

 

[Ds]

This is largely a North American discussion, but those from other places are welcome to join in.

What are your views about the inclusion of atheletic teams in colleges & universities? In specific, but not limited to :

• Do you believe collegess & universities should include atheletic programs?
• Have you ever participated in student atheletics?
• Do you think there exists a bias toward or against student atheletes (either in tuition/scholorships/acceptance, grades, or otherwise), and is this justifyable IYO?
• If you are from a school which excludes atheletics, do you think it works well? Did you choose to go to this place (at least partially) for this reason?

If you guys want to include high school topics, that's cool. The ONLY thing I ask is that this not drift into a topic about atheletic drug testing.

I will give my personal opinion later, but I'd like to hear what everyone's got to say!

Hey Redleader, well first of I want to say if the athletic team ( like my school) goes around and thinks that they are the shit, and think that they are to cool to hang with the non-athletics (like me)dey suck!. Even tho my school isn't like a huge University like Univ of Alabama, or Auburn, we still have our own basketball,tennis,volleyball, and soccer team. I think we are a E-5 team? The size under a big ass college like; Clemson University, University of Michigan, University of Florida, University of Alabama, Auburn University or UCLA.

It's usually the white girls/guy athletics that are the biggest snobs (well for here it is.)
The brothers n sisters are nice as shit! That's why everyone is like fuck volleyball,tennis,and soccer. We are all about Basketball here! There's not one white guy/girl on the basketball team here and we have the biggest show-up's and most Championships than any other sport here at my University. True shit, and I'm white.
I do show up the the guys/girls basketball games. They are crunk!!! All my other Universities sports get the player's parent's and maybe their lame boyfriend/girlfriends.
For basketball, and football, Well I don't to much about other schools football/basketball players but more than likely they are way cooler then like the badminton team... I'm 21.. Not 70!!!
[Please, no steroid talk. There's another BL forum for that. -RL]

 

[ThaiDie4]

^ I'm pretty sure that you're not supposed to talk about piss tests and steriods.

The ONLY thing I ask is that this not drift into a topic about atheletic drug testing.

I don't have an issue with athletics in college. I think sports are a great way to maintain good health, have fun, learn responsibility, build character, etc. for all ages - whether you participate in sports as a child or as an adult. Atheletic teams (if they are good) also generate money for their schools. That's less money needed from tuition and from our taxes. I also respect that atheletes are expected to maintain a certain GPA and have manditory "study hall" to keep their grades up. Now, I'm not saying that athletes have never gotten away with poor grades, but as a general rule there are expectations that are given to these students.

The only thing that bothers me is when student-athletes are given privledges that they do not deserve. It doesn't bother me that they get scholarships- I mean, if you work hard at your sport, and maintain good grades, then you earn it, IMO. My issue is when universities give athletes special treatment at the expense of the regualr students.

^ A perfect example is at my university. We recently had our gym renovated, I don't remember the exact cost offhand but it was several million. It turned out really nice and was definently a huge expense. Well, the students recently found out that it was out tuitons being rasied that funded that gym- and the majority of us are not allowed to use it. They implimented a new policy that only atheletes can use the new gym. All of the rest of us (9,000 students) are expected to cram into a small workout room with a total of like 8 treadmills, 6 ellipticals, and a few lifting machines. This is absolute bullshit. They took hundreds of dollars from MY tuition to pay for a facility that I cannot use. As a result, the students at our school are organizing a protest, and you can bet that I'll be a part of it.

Like I said, I have no problem with college athletics or the atheletes themselves. I think sports are great, and are a lot of fun to participate in and watch. But in the end, we are all students, we all pay to go to school, and the main priorty is education- so I don't like being treated as less just because I'm not an athlete.

 

[Ds]

^Now that's cool. That's how it should be done. I'm not hating on steroid use, I just don't agree with it in any sport's. Still I don't hate people who do it. Mostly just the coach's that try to make the athletic an all-star player.

...I just don't like the stuck-up people in college. Like when I ask people I walk by "Good Morning....How are you doing...Are you a freshmen....What's your major, and they don't even notice that I'm there. I guess it's all in my head.

 

[Binge Artist]

Without doubt, athletes do provide a valuable service to their school. And valuable services do merit compensation. So, I believe athletic scholarships are in some sense justified.

One could argue that problems occur when academically deserving students are denied admission to make room for student atheletes. My counter to this would be, first, that such is a fact of life in capitalist society. And second, 99% of people who are in college shouldn't be.

Not to get on my little soapbox and derail this thread, but there is soooo much waste in academia. There are so many branches of pure academics that require absolutely no technology or fancy ass buildings to teach. Just a board, some chalk, a few books, paper, and pencils. I think the old Greeks had it right. There should be various fraternities set up, each led by some wacky academic, like Pythagoras or something. When the leader declares you worthy, you get your degree.

 

[kingzblend]

In response to the OP:

I believe that athletics in universities is a great thing. What better way to unite your campus then by establishing an athletic fan base?

Of course, I will be a little biased as I attend the University of Kansas which is the mecca of college basketball.

However, I wouldn't have it any other way, I love and embrace the athletics here.

 

[ebola?]

As long as athletic programs remain fiscally solvent, sure, no problem.

 

[BeckyLee]

Mixed emotions and some jealousy

I was having an interesting discussion with a professor for "the ivy league school of the south" and it was so AMAZING the level of mediocrity that some of the students attending were blessed with... in the brains department.

PHYSICALLY, their "special talents" are the school's true consideration, but I just wish that I was a hella good athlete b/c I'd be getting a hella good education...
... for free.

This is largely a North American discussion, but those from other places are welcome to join in.

What are your views about the inclusion of atheletic teams in colleges & universities? In specific, but not limited to:

• Do you believe collegess & universities should include atheletic programs?
• Have you ever participated in student atheletics?
• Do you think there exists a bias toward or against student atheletes (either in tuition/scholorships/acceptance, grades, or otherwise), and is this justifiable IYO?
• If you are from a school which excludes atheletics, do you think it works well? Did you choose to go to this place (at least partially) for this reason?

If you guys want to include high school topics, that's cool. The ONLY thing I ask is that this not drift into a topic about atheletic drug testing.

I will give my personal opinion later, but I'd like to hear what everyone's got to say!

 

[Binge Artist]

^Vanderbilt?

Most top notch schools expect students to be at state or national level in two categories: Straight academics or "Other", and "Other" is a fairly broad category that includes musical instruments, sports, and so on. And preference is given to those on a national level in academics. So, really, you shouldn't see too many "meatheads" with Harvard sweatshirts.