Should unpaid college athletes be a men's rights issue?

WallyRenfield · 2015-08-13T21:38:54+00:00

No. Just because the majority of those who are affected or those affected to the largest extent are men does not mean it is a Men's Rights Issue.

If you do that, you start to become like a feminist. "Anything that affects women is a feminist issue!!!!!" -insert Moon Zappa saying "Gag me with a spoon."-

Now, on the subject, I study economics and I can't make an argument against my professor's reasoning for paying college athletes when they are worth more than the monetary value of a full ride scholarship. It just makes too much sense. But, I study economics and most people don't (unfortunately), so my perspective is not average.

notnotnotfred · 2015-08-13T22:46:56+00:00

I'm opposed to the benefits college athletes get already. Full ride scholarships, I can accept (I guess) but in many schools, athletes get their own upgraded living quarters and dining hall. The ones that don't get such special treatment? people who busted their asses to get academic scholarships.

unklestinky · 2015-08-14T10:27:07+00:00

Most college athletes are paid for their services. Most of them get tuition stipends, room and board stipends, and book stipends. The NCAA also recently changed the rules so that on top of tuition, room and board, and books athletes can get a living expenses stipend, which is around $4000 per year. Plus a few other things, when athletes travel with the team ALL expenses are paid. The athletes dont pay for clothing related to the sport including shoes, practice gear, track suits etc. At the university I work for athletes are given the largest meal plans possible.

Athletes are also eligible for other forms of financial aid. So on top of the full ride scholarship they can get federal grants and loans, and other private scholarships. The money from those grants/loans/scholarships go directly into the athletes pocket.

Now consider the average non athlete. They are paying roughly (in Ohio Public school other states costs vary) $15,000 a year in tuition, $10,000 a year in room and board, and another $2000 a year for books. That cost is coming directly out of that students pockets. This is all given to the student-athlete for their services. So yeah, IMO student-athletes are paid.

Now to answer OP's question; NO this is not a men's rights issue. The NCAA rules apply to both genders.

tiqr · 2015-08-13T20:31:28+00:00

That's a tough one.

On one hand, the treatment of college athletes has little to do with the fact that they are men, and more to do with the fact that they are being exploited because they are young. It's kind of like any unpaid intern. They are trading free labour for "valuable experience." And unpaid interns can just as easily be women.

On the other hand, the college athletes who are exploited the most are almost exclusively male. Women's college athletics just don't draw crowds as much, and so there isn't as much money involved. And there might be something to be said about male desposability here. College athletes will often suffer permanent physical injury while working for free. It could be argued that these injuries aren't taken seriously because men are expected to get hurt.

augustfell · 2015-08-13T20:30:46+00:00

Sure, most men aren't top-level college athletes, but then again, most men aren't falsely accused of rape. College sports, especially men's sports, is big business in the U.S., and many athletes are compensated far below what would be their market value. Furthermore, many of these athletes are black and/or come from a disadvantaged background.

More reading here: http://www.usnews.com/debate-club/should-ncaa-athletes-be-paid

Title	Should unpaid college athletes be a men's rights issue?
Author	augustfell
Upvotes	2
Comments	14
Date	August 13, 2015 8:17 PM UTC (10 years ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/MensRights
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/MensRights/comments/3gw3l8/should_unpaid_college_athletes_be_a_mens_rights/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/MensRights/should-unpaid-college-athletes-be-a-mens-rights.973363 https://theredarchive.com/post/973363

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