TO THE EDITOR:
I firmly disagree with the idea of separating athletics from education in the university system. I’m not sure when we made the transition from students who happen to play sports to athletes who happen to go to school, but it clearly has not turned out well. The Nov. 12 editorial about athletics claims that UNC is currently, “allowing (athletes) to pursue a degree while doing what they love.” If they love sports, why would paying them make a difference?
Returning to pure amateur athletics is technically quite simple. If all television and merchandising revenue is pooled across Division I schools, and then distributed evenly among those schools (and ideally across all sports in all of those schools), then there would be far less profit motive for individual schools. Why would we expand the exact conditions that led to the problems we are facing? If I lied and told you I had a Ferrari, you wouldn’t give me a Ferrari to make it the truth. You would call me out and tell me not to lie.
It comes down to really simple concepts. For coaches, players and fans: If the love of the game is not enough for you to give it your all, then I don’t want you here. For athletes: If you don’t want an education first and foremost, then I don’t want you here. For the University: If you want to be a professional sports team, then I don’t want to be here.
John Anagnost
Graduate Student
Department of City and Regional Planning
