Summary and Response to "Why College Athletes Should be Paid"

          In an article I came across that was dating back to October 2013, Tyson Hartnett, argues that the scholarships student athletes receive from a certain university is only enough to cover the basic expenses. Hartnett explains that the an average Division 1 scholarship is $25,000 a year but that is only going to cover the expensive books, a meal plan, tuition, and other "hidden" university fees. He explains that being an athlete in college is like a full-time job because "a player will wake up before before classes, get a lift or conditioning session in, go to class until 3 or 4 p.m., go to practice, go to mandatory study hall, and then finish homework or study for a test." There is also the part where some college athletes try to maintain a job to go get dinner once a week . All of this makes Hartnett's point of how a scholarship isn't really "cash in the player's pockets." The athletes can only spend so much and most of the money they are getting is going to the school. Hartnett also states that NCAA executives earn a salary of up to a million dollars a year, coaches have their salary of $100,000 a year, and the sports programs also rake in their share through selling tickets, advertising, and media rights. All the money being made is going to the school while the players are only making the university look good. Hartnett realizes that college athletes shouldn't be paid too much  but a reasonable amount should enough for the players to afford their own food and other personal expenses.

          In my opinion I would agree with what Hartnett is saying, how college athletes are doing so much to play for their schools and yet there isn't a lot of appreciation shown for it. In the end though, these college athletes are still students. Education should be a priority over money. I do agree that these college athletes are working hard but rather than giving them a paycheck, I would believe that the athletes should earn more from their scholarships. It should be an amount where these player can not only pay for their food, books, tuition, etc., but it should do more. For example the scholarship can cover all the medical care an athlete will need in the case he/she get injured and it should give them a little bonus after a certain period of time for personal expenses. Money shouldn't be the focus, the focus should be turned to how a university can show more appreciation towards the college athletes.