The College Student: A Lopsided Treatment

In continuation of my last post over the Auburn football team getting illegal grade changes to comply with NCAA regulations of maintaining a 2.3 Grade Point Average to be eligible to compete in college football games, I couldn't help but think about the students of universities. I'm talking about the students, not the student-athletes. In my opinion, one of the most glaring reasons to not pay student-athletes for playing, are the students of various universities.

Most athletes of universities receive some form of scholarship to play sports at the university they attend. Even if they don't, they still have incredible benefits normal students could only dream about. As Paul Daugherty, a former professor at the University of Cincinnati noted in one of his courses he taught, "[his students] were not people who asked to be paid to attend college. These were folks who paid for the privilege" (Daugherty). 

Cheesman-Day & Newberger Study

Daugherty mentions some really important points in this passage. The most glaring in my opinion though, is stating how college is a "privilege". College is a privilege. I'm sure tons of people across the country would love to attend college, but simply cannot afford it. I will be able to go to college, which I feel is a huge privilege. In fact,  I could never imagine demanding money to receive a college education in the process. Receiving a free or discounted education is more than enough reciprocity for playing a sport. A sport in which the athlete most likely loves to do. 

To further bolster the point about a college education being a fine mode of reciprocity, a Cheesman-Day & Newberger study showed that individuals who received a degree from a university averaged over $1 million more over their lifetimes versus those who didn't. That's more than enough in my opinion. And to receive such an opportunity at a discounted price (what most athletes get) is incredible. Daugherty also stated that a lot of students leave school with a "five-figure yoke around [their] necks" (Daugherty). 

The students of universities are paying top-dollar for the privilege of attending a university. In hopes, they can receive a degree and better themselves for their lives ahead. College athletes are getting the same education, the majority of which are receiving it at a discounted price, and are now asking to be paid on top of such a privilege. Through the research I have conducted, I render it ridiculous. 

What do you think about this? Do you think a college education is an effective enough mode of reciprocity for student-athletes? Please let me know your thoughts!