Analysis: Why College Athletes Should Not Be Paid

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Each year, many talented young men and women attend colleges across the nation to continue their careers as student-athletes. Because of the time consuming hard work and dedication these individuals put forth year round, many people believe they should receive an annual salary for the entertainment they provide for fans around the world. However, the primary purpose of attending college is to earn an education that will allow one to pursue his or her goal of having a career. Therefore, college athletes should not be paid. Collegiate sports help to provide universities with very large sums of money. So why do college athletes not receive a portion of this income? Krikor Meshefejian, author of “Pay to Play: Should College Athletes Be Paid?,” …show more content…

“.. many top athletes receive free tuition, books, tutoring, room and board, transportation, and medical care. At some schools, such benefits can amount to more than $250,000 per player over four years” (Nocera and Williams 1). So on top of the benefits college athletes already receive, do they really need more? “The notion that a full scholarship isn’t a fair exchange for services provided to a university is ridiculous” (Whitlock). Information from a national survey carried out by the Saint Leo University Polling Institute states, “when asked to think about college athletics.. 66 percent of respondents said athletic scholarships and an opportunity to earn a college degree for free was fair compensation and they should not be paid.” Along with having their necessities and requirements already paid for, college athletes generally do not have to worry about paying off student loans in the future. Unlike other students who are left with no other choice but to do so. “Thus, in comparison, student-athletes already have it easier, financially, than most of the students at their school. That’s why some people answer the question ‘Should student athletes be paid?’ with a firm ‘no’”(Patterson 1). Although college athletes may have a busier schedule than your everyday student, it’s simply unfair to reward them for the time spent outside the classroom rather than on the