Page 492 - Wordsmith A Guide to College Writing

College athletic programs offer obvious benefits. Games
bring money and recognition to the school. Athletic

teams promote school pride and unity, and going to

games can be fun. In spite of these benefits, the

attention given to athletics shortchanges the majority of

the students and forces scholarship to take a back seat.

It is time for colleges to take the spotlight away from
athletics and give academics the edge.

Special treatment for athletes sends the wrong message

to other students. At some colleges, athletes are given

their own dorms and a separate dining hall that provides

special meals to help them reach the peak of physical
condition. Coaches and staff watch over them carefully.

If their grades lag, they are given tutoring and

encouragement. These special privileges send the

wrong message. College should be about academics,

not athletics. If there are special dorms, they should be
for students who are on academic scholarships. If there

are special dining halls, they should serve “brain food” to

students on the dean’s list. And colleges should have a

way of watching over every student. If an ordinary “C”

student begins to lag behind, help and encouragement
should be as immediate for her as it would be for a star

athlete. The special privileges athletes enjoy should be

spread among all students.