The Pros And Cons Of College Athletes Paid

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (or NCAA) is the nonprofit governing body of college athletics. Overseeing more than 1,000 member institutions and some 430,000 student athletes, varying in competition from division I, II and III, these student athletes differ in a plethora of ways, but the one commonality they share, is that none of them are paid. The NCAA is not only the singular association overseeing college athletes, but is also the executive authority of rules, regulations and eligibility of each and every college athlete. While the NCAA cannot be classified as your “typical” corporation, it exudes many of the same fundamental exploitations to which corrupt and unethical corporations conduct business, but at the expense

For instance, non-athlete students have the opportunity to collect income as a professor’s assistance (TA or PLA), assisting in side research, campus tours, or even working at one of the many campus shops. While these student athletes aren’t ineligible for such opportunity, the daily rigors of their schedules and heavy emphasis on athletic improvement, highly represses such opportunities. Yet, they are still kept to the same standard of academic achievement as any other enrolled student, while generating their university income in their athletic

While most individuals, whether it is that of viewer or the NCAA, conform to the idea that these student athletes are being compensated enough through the benefits of scholarship and free education. They don't consider the high risk that can and have resulted from student athletes’ participation and self-sacrifice. While injuries are part of the game and a sad reality of competitive athletics, this element is often largely overlooked. The harsh reality of collision sports such as football, rugby or hockey have added components of long term risk that tend to surface many years after their NCAA eligibility and entertainment endeavors have expired. Yet, these athletes are not and cannot be compensated for such tragedies of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (commonly referred to as CTE), arthritis or PTSD that sometimes result from such competition. While the idea of a “free education” is an immeasurable asset, no amount of free education can compare to life altering challenges some student athletes battle as a result of their provided entertainment. While I am not saying that these student athletes have been forced to partake in such activity and are unaware to the element of risk to which they are partaking in. You would think, or at least hope that with the billions of dollars these student athletes are generating, more than a free education could and should be provided to them. This self-sacrifice