Hannah Baptiste
Corder
English
4/29/2013

Research Position Paper

The issue of whether or not college athletes should be paid is an issue that involves 420,000 student athletes, including myself. When people hear the word athlete, the words that might pop into their heads might be jock, stupid, or spoiled. The term athlete means a lot of different things to different people; some believe that college athletes are spoiled and are given special treatment. While others believe college athletes earn the right to be paid. With that being said, I strongly believe college athletes should be compensated for the hours of work they put in for their school. The Merriam- Webster dictionary definition of the word athlete is “a person who is trained or skilled in exercises, sports, or games requiring physical strength, agility, or stamina”. I also believe the President of the NCAA, Mark Emmert, should look further into this issue and make an attempt to help athletes. My first reason on why I think college athletes should get paid is because college athletes sacrifice their time and their bodies in the same way professional athletes do, but instead of getting paid millions we get paid $0. My second reason on why college athletes should get paid is because unlike other students, the NCAA doesn’t allow us to work a job and earn money. My third and final reason on why I believe college athletes should get paid is because I don’t think it’s fair that coaches are getting paid incredible amounts of money, when the athletes are the ones really winning games. When athletes step onto the field or court, they are risking their body, no matter what level of sports they play. College athletes and professional athletes both risk their bodies every time they step on the field or court. I don’t think it’s fair that professional athletes are getting paid millions of dollars when college athletes aren’t compensated anything yet still trying to do their job. Elite Daily states that when it comes to the lives of college athletes, “ this is truly a full- time job as their duties to fulfill expectations of their peer and superiors far outweigh that of a student on academic scholarship.(Elite Daily 2)” If professional athletes can call football or basketball their “job”, then why shouldn’t college athletes be compensated in the same way? The NCAA needs to understand that they need to treat student-athletes for what they truly are…student- athletes. I can totally see how some people would be completely against the idea of paying college athletes since we are still considered “amateurs”, but if people want results like professional athletes they have to understand the work that has to be put in. I know first hand what a day in the life of a college athlete is like, and I have to say it is the hardest thing I’ve ever gone through. As a college athlete, you not only have to be physically tough, you also have to be mentally and emotionally tough as well. It takes a certain person to be a competitive D1 college athlete. Like my coach always says, “If it was easy, everyone would do it”. I completely agree with that statement I just don’t think it’s right that professional athletes get paid outrageous amounts when college athletes don’t get compensated at all, yet are expected to go out and give 100% for their school. My second reason on why I think college athletes should get paid is because student- athletes are not allowed to work…according to the NCAA. If you’re not going to allow us to work, then at least give us the right to work go out and make our own money. If you truly want to treat us like real students, then at least give us the option to find our own work along with representing our school. I understand that these laws are supposed to protect athletes from being overworked, but they also “don’t want them cashing in on their performances in any way.” If schools were allowed to pay their athletes then this would take this problem of