I’m not sure if I remember correctly but don’t most athletic programs not pay for themselves? Don’t they require a portion of the tuition from non athletics students to continue functioning and in that case wouldn’t it mean that there is in fact less education happening due to the athletic program?
Just because a portion of funding doesn’t make it back to the classroom for other students, a university is more than its academics. And the gyms and training centers built for the athletic program can often be used by other students at schools where the athletic program isn’t popular enough to pay for itself.
And gyms could still be built for student use using significantly less leeching on the students. I know that because my university had quality gyms and no sports teams outside of intramural.
I’m not sure if I remember correctly but don’t most athletic programs not pay for themselves? Don’t they require a portion of the tuition from non athletics students to continue functioning and in that case wouldn’t it mean that there is in fact less education happening due to the athletic program?
https://www.goacta.org/news-item/most_ncaa_division_i_athletic_departments_take_subsidies/
https://www.knightcommission.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/jones.pdf
https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaeltnietzel/2024/01/13/power-five-universities-spend-much-more-per-athlete-than-for-other-students-finds-new-study/
Just because a portion of funding doesn’t make it back to the classroom for other students, a university is more than its academics. And the gyms and training centers built for the athletic program can often be used by other students at schools where the athletic program isn’t popular enough to pay for itself.
And gyms could still be built for student use using significantly less leeching on the students. I know that because my university had quality gyms and no sports teams outside of intramural.