Should Non Athletes Be Paid

The dumb jock stereotype has troubled athletes for as long as anyone can remember. Athletes are seen as unintelligent jocks that get free and easy rides through school. They never seem to work hard at anything academically and yet they earn A’s from their professors. This belief has led to athletes being stigmatized by their non-athletic peers who feel as though their needs and accomplishments are ignored in favor of those they view as intellectually inferior to them. However, if one were to really look at the situation from both sides, it would raise multiple questions as to whether or not athletes and non-athletes differ from each other, or whether athletes get more privileges than the non-athletic student body. Some people would be quick to say yes that athletes are more privileged than others. And others would say that non-athletes have it easier and shouldn’t complain. But the fact is, athletes do have an advantage over average students that makes their paths through college easier to manage. Athletes and non-athletes have been silent rivals ever since the introduction of sports. An athlete is usually …show more content…
While many respect the time and effort of college athletics, many people don’t believe they should be paid. Athletes are students, not employees to their college and their scholarships are more than enough compensation. They don’t have to worry about the prices of textbooks, student loans, meal plans, or the cost of living on campus (McCauley). Paid athletes also get to avoid years of debt after graduation. According to the Institute for College Access and Success, the average debt for graduates is $28,400. That’s an immense burden for students who may not have a job waiting for them after they graduate. When things are thought about in that way, plenty of students would be more than happy to take on a sport if it meant escaping