Page 93 - Phoenix2000-01

-------------------------------~------~--........~ COMMENTARY Thursday, March 1,2001 - Page 5 Maintaining priorities: academics are first, then athletics I don't consider myself an ath- to the point of probably having to Amy Bittinger gives her about lete at Western Maryland College, drop out of school perspective on athlete land College are members 25 percent of a few more athletes but over ten students of at least Those ath- times as many students. I consider myself a student who Students who get into Ivy preferential treatment. one varsity sports team.ffeach ath- teres admitted without merit make participates on the lacrosse team, League or prestigious schools on tete is accepted without having aca- up a small percentage of the stu- and in other clubs and organiza- the basis of athletic skill and with Well, I play because it is fun.How- demie credentials 25 percent of the dent body, so they do not bring tions. My first priority as a student little regard for academic prepara- ever, I was not recruited and I was student body is under qualified down the academic integrity ofthe is academics. tion will undoubtedly be greatly not offered financial gain because (about 400 students). Even if one whole school. As a result, there are Recently, I read an article in the hindered academically in college. of my sport (as prohibited by be- out of two athletes is accepted with- less walk-on athletes and less aca- Washington Post in which come- This is true because, not only will ing a division three school). , do out academic credentials, then over demically qualified students at the dian Chris Rock complained that students have less time for school not think that playing lacrosse will 12 percent (about 200 students) of school. A greater percentage of he feels that he wouldn't be admit- because of all of the time demands benefit me in any way that other the student body is under qualified. teams are recruited, so a team is ted to college because he doesn't such athletic programs require, but activities have not. The bigger the percent, the more picked a year in advance. have a good jump shot. he or she will not be as prepared Furthermore, according to likely the general academic rigor This gives less opportunity for Similarly, I read in New Yorker for such academic rigors that IVY Shulman's research, athletes with This is athlete. magazine that many schools that league and other schools expect. the same college entrance scores of the school is goi~g to decrease. why the less-then-stellar myself. Chances This is part of the reason I consider what have successful athletic programs This is why I hope that students (high school gpa and SAT scores) Swarthmore College in Pcnnsylva- are if I was a senior in high school, do not necessarily yield great finan- at Western Maryland College are as non-athletes who have similar rna, a member of the Centennial I would not be looked at. If'1 had cial gains as a result of spending not given admission preference time restraints as a result of partici- Conference of which WMC is a not come to WMC, then I would on recruitment, management, and based on athletics. It brings down pation in drama, musical ensemble, member, dropped their football not be playing. But, I hope that I marketing. , the academic integrity of the whole or other activities, perform less program. They didn't want to ad- would have still gotten accepted. I Just the other day, I read about school. well academically in school. mit academically inferior students hope that a less qualified athlete Annapolis native Susan Reihmer in Susan Reihmer explained in her This shows that athletics hin- that would help the struggling fool- would not have taken my accep- the Baltimore Sun saying that es- column that based on research done ders academic performance and not ball program. Instead of fielding a ranee. I also hope that the academic pecially in Anne Arundel County, by James Shulman in "The Game merely because of how much time weak team with academically suit- integrity of the school is main- students are more likely to get into of Life: College Sports and Edu- it takes up. This is demonstrated by able athletes, they dropped {he pro- tained in my years here and will college because of their skills with cational Values" that financial ben- many describing athletes as slack- gram. continue to be in the future. a lacrosse stick rather than their efit is not related to athletic suc- ers in the classroom. On the other hand, big schools SAT scores. However, I think that cess at all. The research says that Another problem that athletics like University of Michigan and -Amy Bittinger is a senior math- an important element has been ne- "college programs regularly lose pose is that for each under-quali- University of Maryland have only ematics major. glected from many of these argu- money" and that "Alumni giving fied, but athletically-talented stu- ments: what is in the best interest is not linked to the winning team dent accepted, there is one quali- of the student? in the long run." Nor is it the case, fied student rejected. This point is erhaps some things I guess I am lucky that I lack according to the same research, that especially important at small athletic skill because if I had got- college athletes make better lead- schools where there is a greater re better left unsaid ten into Princeton or Duke because ers or employers after graduating. percentage of athletes in the student of what I could do on a field, I So what benefit is there to en- body. would have struggled academically couraging athletics in college? For example, at Western Mary- Brandi Crawford explains there is a problem, and they are apster: better late then never unfruitful and annoying. trying to resolve it. Everything why complaining is that has been suggested so far is J have to ~"l.dmit, J am new at What is even harder to be- great. this. I got a spiffy new computer lieve, no one Iknow really seems When I read the commentary Among those suggestions are: for Christmas. Among the various to be willing to help Napster in section, I usually notice the same a commuter only parking lot new age features it possessed, it their fight against the record com- sorts of issues being discussed: which is close to the campus, sen- had one ability that stood out from parking. food, etc. And, although ing parking permits for the panies. More than likely because the others: the ability to play most people notice that Napster this can-be rather redundant, it re- amount of spaces available and mp3's. is fighting an uphill battle: one of ally doesn't bother me very much. no more. and giving upperclass- Now. prior to this acquisition, which they will never gain a vic- Why? Because I would rather men commuters the right to park I had always taken the high road tory. Or, maybe most people are read well-written articles discuss- closer to the campus. in the "Nupster Battle." Artists just hypocrites. I know I am. As ing these issues than to hear We have dwelt on these is- should have the right to protect soon as the service changes the people constantly complain about sues, and it's obvious that the their music and not have it spread format. if it does not just shut them from various locations on need is there, so there is really no around the Internet with no finan- Michael Wiles down that is, I will be one of the the campus. point except to push the issue cial compensation. first to bid it farewell It seems that lately every- until something is done. Just However. after considering new hobby last week when I Napsrer has provided me with where I turn I hear people com- don't walk into class complain- how I would feel if my band, learned that "Napster" is quickly a lot of entertainment and enjoy- plaining about one thing or an- ing that you had to park a mile "Room 402:' had its recording losing their case against the record ment, and I should therefore be other. So, I am going to give my away, because you've already placed on the ';~'.' b8g