thoughts on student-athletic culture, post-workshop

In my experience at the writing workshop, I felt that certain stereotypes about student athletes were reinforced. For example, the athlete I helped for about an hour or so with his paper, expected me to tell him exactly what to write and occasionally asked me to repeat exactly what I had said so he could write it in his paper. Asking, "what would you write here?" or "what are you trying to say here in this sentence?" were met with blank stares, although he had all of his notes, research, and a half-formed paper with him. I'm sure this is partly due to him being in a new situation and he was unsure of how a writing tutorial should run, but is it also because the average student athlete at WSU is accustomed to being catered to in some way? Student athletes have their own gym, section of a dining center, and tutoring center - more exclusive programs than any other student minority group on campus (most of whom have only offices in the CUB).

This gives the impression that student athletes are given preferential treatment - not by peers but by the administration. The question of whether or not they deserve those perks is not the issue here - it is why do they get them? Does the administration feel that the student athlete is incapable of succeeding in the environment expected of a non-athlete student? In my opinion, this is insulting to the student-athlete. What are the problems with services provided for the campus as a whole, that student-athletes require separate services? If they are not suitable for athletes, why are they adequate for the rest of the campus? For example, what is wrong with the Undergraduate Writing Center that athletes need their own tutoring program? I would be interested to hear the University's explanation of this - "separate but equal"?

Sarah mentioned "high-risk" athletes - those whose academics might compromise their athletic eligibility. This makes me wonder how student-athletes, if they do not meet the academic standards for admission but are accepted to the school for the athletic program, would use that to define their culture within both the athletic and academic arenas of the campus? Another point is the greater issue of race within athletics. It is obvious that most of WSU's so-called "diversity" comes from athletics - is that because students of color have been told they can succeed only through athletics and have never been encouraged to place an emphasis on academics? On the other side of the coin, is it fair to blame institutions of public education, etc., for individuals failing to push themselves academically? And how does this affect student-athlete culture on campus, both within the athletics department and outside it? Do student-athletes feel that they are owed special treatment because they are athletes (sense of entitlement) or do they think they are undeserving of so many perks? Or is it merely a matter of, athletes have different needs than those of the regular student? (And: how is this justified?)

In response to Sarah's question, I was talking this over with some friends and the general consensus was, "I think student-athletes get too many perks, but if I was a student-athlete, I would want perks too." I think the majority of the campus regards student-athletes as necessary to the school (good athletes sell tickets to games, after all, plus everyone likes to brag about the Cougs), and I'm sure some are jealous of the perks they recieve, especially those who think athletes are undeserving, as well those who feel that full-ride athletic scholarships could be better used on someone who actually is here for the academics of the university, rather than athletics.