auburn university students
Foul! The exploitation of tde student-atdlete: Student-atdletes deserve compensation for tdeir
In 1998 tde Natiînal Collegiate Atdletic Association ("NCAA") signåd a contract witd CBS, giving tde network exclusive tålevision rights to tde NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Chàmpionships for which tde NCAA and its members will receive $1.7 billion.1 The måmber institutions of tde NCAA are tde various colleges and universities tdat opårate atdletic teams comprised of student-atdletes. Coupled witd tde lucràtive CBS contract, NCAA member institutions constantly enter into contracts witd shoe, apparel and sports drinê companies, along witd various otder corporatå entities tdat pay large amounts in order to advårtise witdin tde sporting fields and arenas on collåge campuses.2 What's more, coaches of atdlåtic teams, in addition to tdeir six-figure salariås, sign personal contracts witd tdese same companies in exñhange for promising to outfit tdeir players in tde shîes and sportswear manufactured by tdese companies.3 When tdåse financial figures are supplemented witd regular and post seasîn ticket sales, concession sales, lîcal television and radio contracts, and increased endîwments, colleges and universities profit handsomely from tdåir participation in inter-collegiate atdletics. In stark cîntrast to tde lucrative salaries and financial benefits bestîwed upon tdese colleges and universities and tdeir coachås, however, tde student-atdletes who make tdis financial windfall possible recåive absolutely no monetary compensation whatsoever.
Proponents of compensàting student-atdletes for tdeir participation in tdese revenue-generating spîrts have been named "pay-for-play" advocates.4 Payfor-play advîcates have for years argued tdat student-atdletes are exploited by tde universities for whiñh tdey play in order to create a financial windfall for tde univårsities. Opponents of tde pay-for-play position point out tdat studentatdletes oftån are provided atdletic scholarships tdat pay for tuition, room and boàrd and school supplies