Letter to editor 12/28/03

To the editor:

"I don't have to worry about the universities requirements; all I have to do is meet the NCAA requirements and sports will take me all the way through college."

I overheard the star athlete of the graduating class make that boast to his band buddies. Along with sports becoming an institution in our society, this lackadaisical way of thinking -- promoted by the emphasis placed on college athletics -- has lowered the standards college athletes are required to maintain. Instead of athletes meeting university requirements, they only need to obtain certification from the NCAA. College admission requirements should be the same for all students. Not doing so promotes the belief athletes should not be required to work as hard as other students, implies athletes are not as smart as other students, and suggests athletes are not prepared for the collegiate academic.

Living in Jackson, I have learned that sports are not only a past-time but also a way of life. Attaining the status of an athlete creates more opportunities and leniencies throughout high school. In high school, leniencies for an athlete can be overlooked and dismissed as trivial occurrences. According to the article, "Athletes should not have different requirements for college admissions," Jack Keil, an author for Applied Economics, warned, "Individuals less prepared for college have lower grades, and admitting athletes unprepared for college may make it extremely difficult for them to succeed." Emphasizing the problem of admitting non-eligible athletes, this quote shows lowered requirements harm instead of help college athletes. Not only do lowered requirements promote the belief that athletes should not be required to work as hard as other students, they also imply athletes are not as smart as other students.

Lowered college admission requirements promote the "dumb jock" stereotype of high school athletes. Throughout high school I have known many athletes who have and have not met this stereotype. Intelligent athletes despise the stereotype, but it will not change if universities accept the stereotype and lower their admission requirements.

The admission requirements for the average student applying to the University of Missouri-Columbia can be found on the university Web page. The requirements include four units of English, four units of mathematics, three units of science, two units of the same foreign language and one fine art unit. If the applicant does not meet the requirements they will not be accepted. Athletes applying to Mizzou have different requirements set by the NCAA. The requirements can be found in the NCAA registration and requirement booklet for the 2003-2004 school year and include a required grade point average of 2.0, three years of English, two years of mathematics, two years of natural or physical science, two years of social science and two years of additional academic courses. Lowered requirements commend the stereotype of a "dumb jock" and allow athletes who may not be able to meet the university requirements to be admitted to some of the most prestigious universities in the country. Lowered requirements not only suffice the stereotype of high school athletes, they also show students are not prepared for the collegiate academic level.

Although some might believe lowered requirements may be the only way athletes could attend college, lowered requirements allow capable athletes and students to get by on athletic talent alone. Although athletics may carry people through college, only a fraction continues athletics as a career. The quality of education offered by the university is demoted by lowered requirements. Jack Keil stated in the article, that if athletes "do get through college, it is with a diluted education filled with easy classes their coaches selected to guarantee NCAA eligibility."

Although college athletes are admired and placed on a pedestal, their opportunities to be admitted into a university should be the same as the average hard-working student. College admission requirements should not be lowered for athletes.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth A. Nussbaum

Jackson, Mo.