A College Cheer (only if you are from the Bronx)

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I have ranted and raved against sports on campus- not because I believe our students are not entitled to such diversions, but because the money and power these programs have accumulated are poisoning academia.  (We already have petty bourgeoisie battles over tenure; the sports battles, on the other hand, are far from petty.)

The NCAA would have us believe that these jocks are scholars.  Really?  Why is it that Maryland and Ohio State (just to pick two) fail in having so few of these jocks graduate – within SIX years.  (Yes, that’s the yardstick that the NCAA “police” impose- to up the graduation rates to their still pitiful status.)

Right now, Maryland will be terminating six to eight athletic teams- from water polo to tennis to cross-country.  By the way, the graduation rates for cross-country and track athletes is high enough for me to have been mum about this sport on campus (90%).  Not so for football or basketball,  which sports are not in question.

You see, at Maryland, the athletic program is in dire straits, having accumulated deficits for the last five years.  So, the choice was to eliminate the teams in question, thereby saving some $ 5 KK each year.  There was no way they would eliminate basketball (45% graduation rate) or football (60% graduation rate)- they generate more money than they cost, actually subsidizing the athletic program, in general.  And, that does not include alumni donations that accrue to other departments, but are garnered through the athletic program events.

But, to have President Loh (U of M) claim that he is reacting to an inadequate business model, one that is “inequitable and unsustainable” and plans to “reset the balance between academics and big-time athletics” just shreds the credulity bubble beyond belief.   Loh’s only saving grace is that Maryland has not managed to earn its place on the “Wall of Shame” yet- one that is clearly populated by Syracuse, Penn State, Miami, and Ohio State.

Which brings up another next sports fiasco.  Ohio State- the school on probation for various and sundry violations of the “code”  (of course, NOT paltry graduation rates)- hired a new coach.  I have nothing against Urban Meyer.  (I know NOTHING about him).  But, to pay this man $ 4 KK, when the president of the university makes less than 1/3 that ($1.3 KK), is insane.  He will be the 4th highest paid coach in all of academia (which is yet another problem).  At a time, when academic positions are left wanting, due to lack of funds.

Where is that star-studded committee at Ohio State calling for an investigation into such practices?  Of course, with the dearth of publicity for the Maryland committee that demanded the review of the termination of those sports programs that graduate students, as opposed to basketball, which doesn’t, this is not surprising.  Just disappointing.Roy A. Ackerman, Ph.D., E.A.

 

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6 thoughts on “A College Cheer (only if you are from the Bronx)”

  1. Sports and athletics are the center pole around which I have built all of my success. I began training as an athlete at age 7 and the incredible range of skills and tools this experience provided is far beyond what any “academic” training provided to me. So often, high performance in class meant regurgitating what had been “told” to me, not about questioning, exploring or coming to my own conclusions. In contrast, every time I took to the ice, the balance beam, the track and even as head cheerleader I had to bring leadership skills, goal setting, self-evaluation, creativity, self-expression, self-motivation, effective use of resources and so many other things. It is a shame that the incredible training ground sports can be has become, in some arenas, so tainted and off-target with what athletic programs can be at their best. Of course, I was required to deliver a high level of grades in my academics in order to continue to participate in sports and there is no excuse for overlooking that the goal needs to be graduating a well-balanced student – mind, body and spirit – not just sliding students through the system for a title win. In the end, the students suffer. Like anything, as you highlighted Roy, the system needs balance. While some programs struggle, others are flush with cash and, no, the coach should NOT be making more than the president of a university in my opinion. I hope people will see the opportunity to create change within the sports programs who are out of alignment instead of simply making it all bad and eliminating them…there is gold to be mined in the sports experience…but not the gold of sponsorships and overpaid coaches…the gold of students who can be and do more because of the core strength, integrity and self-confidence developed through their participation.
    Tambre Leighn/coaching by tambre recently posted..Desire & Motivation ~ Formula for Success

  2. It seems more and more information like you share here Roy becomes known but yet nobody is ‘occupying’ the heads of college’s and asking that we really look into this. But like everything else, there are too many people that love football, and after going through our son’s 4 year high school politics, his baseball program was threatened to be shut down until us parents rallied up and donated. I think sports is very important to our youth so taking it away is not the answer, but transparency just like we want with the banks should be be required.
    Lynn Brown recently posted..An Important Piece of LinkedIn Marketing Advice

    1. Oh, Lynn, there are, indeed, many people who love football- and other sports.
      But, the #1 job for colleges is to educate students. If they are incapable of providing that education to certain students (those that fail to complete their studies in 4 and 5 years), then the criteria for those students must be evaluated. If these students were not in sports programs, you can bet every dollar spent on education that someone would be analyzing the admissions criteria, the preparation, and the programs involved. But, when these students play football, the money-power-prestige of the program is all encompassing. The education of the athletes is not among the considerations, nor are the special considerations offered the programs.
      Football already has professional teams. The athletes are paid money. The owners make money. In colleges, the athletes are provided scholarships (and some, illegally, are also paid money and gifts)- but their education is not foremost- which it should be.
      Roy

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