Spring Break
Home > Commentary
Athletics should offer more to higher education
Guest commentary
by Guest Commentary |
PUBLISHED ON 2/21/07 IN Commentary
The majority of students are grateful for the opportunity to attend such a high-caliber school, and if your family is wealthy (the average University of Oregon student's family income is $100,000 per year), then a quality education is implied. For underprivileged families, many are forced to find alternatives to education. The talented few can choose an athletic career but have to compete with recruits from around the country for limited scholarships to good schools. The ones who make it don't have such a glamorous life: injuries, family situations, and academics all factor into their ability to remain in school and a spot on the team. The lucky ones use their talents to access education but don't automatically get a degree. Many athletes would benefit from a strictly academic career considering the poor state of our nation's public education system.
The problems that many black Americans have in accessing an education is frequently predicated on financial problems that becomes apparent in intercollegiate athletics. If you look at the make up of University's athletes, the racial demographic compared with that of the total student population, you will see just how unequal things really are at our school. The black population, for example, composes 40 percent of the male student athletes, but added to the total male population of our school it is equal to less then .5 percent of the University population. To understand access to education, we have to begin looking at the fact of racial inequality at this flagship institution and the result of the athletic population inequality. Institutional racism and economic inequality are the causes of the disproportionate population in higher education. We desperately need to look for solutions. Financial assistance along with many other supplements can change the racial and class disparities at this school. The Athletic Department is not causing racism and economic inequality, but it is not advocating against it. By not actively working to fix these problems, the department is only facilitating the inequality by putting student athletes to work on the plantation fields.
The problems that many black Americans have in accessing an education is frequently predicated on financial problems that becomes apparent in intercollegiate athletics. If you look at the make up of University's athletes, the racial demographic compared with that of the total student population, you will see just how unequal things really are at our school. The black population, for example, composes 40 percent of the male student athletes, but added to the total male population of our school it is equal to less then .5 percent of the University population. To understand access to education, we have to begin looking at the fact of racial inequality at this flagship institution and the result of the athletic population inequality. Institutional racism and economic inequality are the causes of the disproportionate population in higher education. We desperately need to look for solutions. Financial assistance along with many other supplements can change the racial and class disparities at this school. The Athletic Department is not causing racism and economic inequality, but it is not advocating against it. By not actively working to fix these problems, the department is only facilitating the inequality by putting student athletes to work on the plantation fields.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Dr. Bob
posted 2/21/07 @ 1:12 PM PST
I'm never really sure what your argument is here, as you seem to just randomly bring up topics from left field throughout the article. You speak in vague rhetoric, and are largely misinformed about some of the issues you address. (Continued…)
Dustin Knowlton
posted 2/21/07 @ 3:14 PM PST
Ty, maybe it's time for you to come off your high horse, preaching racism everywhere you turn, and take a look at the cold hard facts. First off, yes, although the student population doesn't have a high percentage of students of color, maybe you should look for a reason why, and not be so quick to blame it on finances. (Continued…)
Post a Comment