We're worrying an awful lot from a report about ongoing discussions. No one's voted yet. If Stanford raised concerns, well, that's what discussions are for.
I do think the issue of amateurism is an important one. Stanford is a place of champions, many of them in the Olympics. If NCAA football and basketball student athletes get paid, can the swimmers, gymnasts, water polo and volleyball players still participate in the Olympics if the NCAA relinquishes its amateur status?
It makes sense that all the concerns -- safety, amateur status, housing, maintaining a true "student athlete" experience, equality between students, transportation, legal requirements -- need to get hashed out.
I personally have been surprised there is such a kerfuffle about college athletes getting accommodations on-campus during Covid. I think Stanford has said some students can be permitted back on campus. If a PhD student is in the middle of her dissertation and needs to access the libraries, or if a researcher is in the middle of conducting Covid-related research, it makes sense for them to have access to the campus to use labs, equipment, or other facilities that their activities may require. So I personally don't think it's inconsistent or unequal for student athletes to have access to the campus. The gyms, fields and equipment are part of the unique resources their activities require.
I trust Stanford to be very able to determine whether some students can return to campus safely, whether football players can compete safely, and what all the legal/eligibility issues might be. I trust they're representing their concerns in good faith. I don't think they're doing this as a "PR stunt", or to "be elitist," or because they are irrational, uninformed and want to destroy college athletics or Stanford's exceptional contributions.
I can wait to hear all the facts first.
I do think the issue of amateurism is an important one. Stanford is a place of champions, many of them in the Olympics. If NCAA football and basketball student athletes get paid, can the swimmers, gymnasts, water polo and volleyball players still participate in the Olympics if the NCAA relinquishes its amateur status?
It makes sense that all the concerns -- safety, amateur status, housing, maintaining a true "student athlete" experience, equality between students, transportation, legal requirements -- need to get hashed out.
I personally have been surprised there is such a kerfuffle about college athletes getting accommodations on-campus during Covid. I think Stanford has said some students can be permitted back on campus. If a PhD student is in the middle of her dissertation and needs to access the libraries, or if a researcher is in the middle of conducting Covid-related research, it makes sense for them to have access to the campus to use labs, equipment, or other facilities that their activities may require. So I personally don't think it's inconsistent or unequal for student athletes to have access to the campus. The gyms, fields and equipment are part of the unique resources their activities require.
I trust Stanford to be very able to determine whether some students can return to campus safely, whether football players can compete safely, and what all the legal/eligibility issues might be. I trust they're representing their concerns in good faith. I don't think they're doing this as a "PR stunt", or to "be elitist," or because they are irrational, uninformed and want to destroy college athletics or Stanford's exceptional contributions.
I can wait to hear all the facts first.