[JustAnotherFan]

I don't think the university wants 880 undergrad spots taken up by athletes anymore, either.

Perhaps.  Eliminating athletics from college life would eradicate a fair amount of the social fabric of the collegiate experience.  I would support that argument if we eliminate the rest of collegiate life outside of classes; e.g., student government, clubs, fraternities, sororities, dormitories, bands, music, parties, and all other social elements.

I like college athletics as well. And I know there are tangible benefits to sports on campus. But regarding the above statement I think that maybe what akiddoc was getting at with 880 undergrad spots taken up is that Stanford admissions is giving tremendous admissions hooks to recruited athletes, and that means that 880 people without said hooks are denied a spot. At a school like UCLA or Michigan it is no big deal because they have such large student bodies. But at Stanford where athletes make up 12% of the student body that is not insignificant. Kids who want to come in and participate in student government or greek life or party are not getting admissions hooks for that.

[JustAnotherFan]

I don't think the university wants 880 undergrad spots taken up by athletes anymore, either.

Perhaps.  Eliminating athletics from college life would eradicate a fair amount of the social fabric of the collegiate experience.  I would support that argument if we eliminate the rest of collegiate life outside of classes; e.g., student government, clubs, fraternities, sororities, dormitories, bands, music, parties, and all other social elements.

I like college athletics as well. And I know there are tangible benefits to sports on campus. But regarding the above statement I think that maybe what akiddoc was getting at with 880 undergrad spots taken up is that Stanford admissions is giving tremendous admissions hooks to recruited athletes, and that means that 880 people without said hooks are denied a spot. At a school like UCLA or Michigan it is no big deal because they have such large student bodies. But at Stanford where athletes make up 12% of the student body that is not insignificant. Kids who want to come in and participate in student government or greek life or party are not getting admissions hooks for that.