What is the true purpose of college? Is it to educate young minds for the future and careers? Is it to overpay and keep a bloated obsolete inefficient job structure in place for those with minimal skills? Or is it to use young athlete and earn money off their hard work, sweat and tears?
Lately I believe it is the last two, much more than the first. I am getting my information firsthand from clients who are or have recently been employees of large colleges. As well as people who are current students or newly graduated. I recently wanted to have a conversation with the President of my son’s college, and he passed on my request.
Now with the Coronavirus, unprofitable college sports teams, are already being cut as universities facing plunging tuition revenue. Was their purpose to educate or be farm system for the major sports leagues?
Men’s soccer and wrestling programs have been eliminated by two schools so far, and more are sure to follow as the financial toll mounts. College football, the biggest moneymaker, could be in major trouble this fall if the season is canceled, delayed or games are played in empty stadiums. Ticket and concession sales generate big bucks for the premier NCAA programs. Again, what does have to do with education?
I don’t believe the bullshit line that sports help the college grow to be more economical. Tuition has been increasing at most colleges and universities at a rate significantly over inflation. They also don’t want to pay the players, but than neither did the south at one point. No one wants to share the wealth.
But the decrease in sporting income comes on top of decreased tuition revenue, as costs continue to rise and students pass on college all together or drop out due to the inability to keep up with the cost increases.
The system is broken, but colleges and universities seem reluctant, unwilling or incapable of fixing the system themselves.