Sports commentary: Protection of pregnant athletes neglects school interests
Meghan Lopez
Issue date: 3/13/08 Section: Sports
In mid-January, the National Collegiate Athletics Association Board of Directors ruled that, as of Aug. 1, schools no longer have the right to revoke a scholarship from a student-athlete due to eating disorders, depression, addiction, mononucleosis or pregnancy.
This regulation, while having good intentions, is misguided when it comes to pregnancy. To come to this conclusion, we must first examine why scholarships are awarded to student-athletes.
Scholarships are a way for schools to compensate students for time spent playing a sport. They are a way for coaches to help their busy student-athletes pay for the ever-rising cost of tuition, books and housing. In return, athletes invest their time into practice and travel for competitions. In essence, the athletic department is paying these people so that they, in turn, can be paid.
The entire athletic department, including the granting of scholarships, is based upon business transactions. Why should the school be held accountable for holding up their end of these transactions if the student-athlete is not holding up their end of the deal? If one party is going to be responsible for their arrangements in the contract, both sides should be forced to comply.
Not everyone who plays for the team gets a scholarship, and the amount of money that the scholarship is worth is dependent on the athlete's performance both on and off the court. Thus, the modified NCAA regulation is misguided because it takes the student's personal situation into account, instead of focusing on improving the school. It is unfair to give money to people who will not be able to play for the team for an extended amount of time, especially with pregnancy.
It's also understood that teenage pregnancy is often a mistake and shouldn't control the person's life. In reality, pregnancy is not simply a nine-month ordeal. Instead, it involves long nights of caring for a crying infant, months of not being able to exercise, and then the additional time getting the athlete back into shape. This is true for both men and women fulfilling the extra responsibilities of raising a child.
This regulation, while having good intentions, is misguided when it comes to pregnancy. To come to this conclusion, we must first examine why scholarships are awarded to student-athletes.
Scholarships are a way for schools to compensate students for time spent playing a sport. They are a way for coaches to help their busy student-athletes pay for the ever-rising cost of tuition, books and housing. In return, athletes invest their time into practice and travel for competitions. In essence, the athletic department is paying these people so that they, in turn, can be paid.
The entire athletic department, including the granting of scholarships, is based upon business transactions. Why should the school be held accountable for holding up their end of these transactions if the student-athlete is not holding up their end of the deal? If one party is going to be responsible for their arrangements in the contract, both sides should be forced to comply.
Not everyone who plays for the team gets a scholarship, and the amount of money that the scholarship is worth is dependent on the athlete's performance both on and off the court. Thus, the modified NCAA regulation is misguided because it takes the student's personal situation into account, instead of focusing on improving the school. It is unfair to give money to people who will not be able to play for the team for an extended amount of time, especially with pregnancy.
It's also understood that teenage pregnancy is often a mistake and shouldn't control the person's life. In reality, pregnancy is not simply a nine-month ordeal. Instead, it involves long nights of caring for a crying infant, months of not being able to exercise, and then the additional time getting the athlete back into shape. This is true for both men and women fulfilling the extra responsibilities of raising a child.
***NOTE: Log in before posting a comment. Anonymous comments will not be posted.***
Be the first to comment on this story