Student athlete compensation

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Every year thousands of collegiate athletes from around the country are exploited by the schools they attend and contribute to. Schools should compensate student athletes more fairly for their worth to the university.

In purely economic terms, every exchange should benefit both parties. Even as a first-year walk-on on the basketball team here at BYU, the inequality is glaringly apparent. According to a “Bleacher Report” study performed in 2013, the average University of Texas football player is worth $578,000. Granted that this is the highest value calculated for any school, also consider that the University of Arkansas’ players are worth $353,000 apiece ranked at No. 10. But here is the most shocking stat: each player at the University of Texas only receives 3.2%, or $37,600 of his individual revenues a year, in the form of scholarships, housing and food. If this was a major corporation there would be a public outrage, but because it is college athletics, and they are labeled student athletes, people seem to turn a blind eye.

To add insult to injury, after 20–30 hours a week spent bleeding from a stray elbow, sweating after post-practice sprints and crying after heartbreaking losses for our university, we only receive a measly half credit a semester.

We can help change NCAA regulation and standard operating procedures by donating to the National College Players Association (NCPA). Because it’s simple: College athletes need to be compensated fairly.

Graham Pingree
Greenwood Village, Colo.

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