By
The Wildcat Opinions Board
UA Faculty Senate is considering a motion to recognize former UA football coach Dick Tomey for his team's higher graduation rates.
The Faculty Senate should not pass this motion.
Such a motion purports that Dick Tomey is solely responsible for the academic success of his team members, when in reality many factors lead to the higher graduation rate. As law professor and Sen. Andrew Silverman pointed out, "A lot of faculty members have a lot to do with graduation rates."
Clearly the Faculty Senate is attempting to recognize an athletic program that is also academically successful, perhaps to urge overall academic improvement among athletes. This is obviously an important goal, for too often poor academic performance among athletes is overlooked, or deemed an acceptable reality.
However, the senate should find another means by which it can recognize academically successful athletes. It should give credit to the many factors - and many people - that contribute to athletes' success. To merely congratulate Tomey for the academic success of his team would be to undervalue the advising, tutoring and many professors and staff members that help athletes achieve their academic goals.
At its last meeting Monday, the senate postponed voting on the motion. When the motion is brought up again, hopefully the senate will vote against it and find a more appropriate way to recognize academically successful athletes.
