Pity the biochemistry student, not the athlete

The author of the editorial titled, "Save the athlete, abolish college athletics" has on the surface created a logical and sound argument, but it is based on some very nasty assumptions that have no basis in fact and were most likely said out of ignorance of the subject he speaks of.

Being a biochemistry major, I would like to dispel some of the myths that are contained in that editorial.

First, let's begin with the "theoretical" biochemistry student referred to in the article. The typical biochemistry or science major student works in a laboratory under the supervision of an M.D. or Ph.D. for $5.25 per hour. They do work on projects that have already been worked out by their head researcher (the M.D.) or that they have worked on with the help of the head researcher. If the research being done does yield a breakthrough in technology it is the head researcher who reaps the benefits. The only benefit that the lab tech may see is having their name associated with the research when it is published. And the only way to make money on the new technology for the M.D., aside from getting a pay raise from the university, is to patent it and sell that patent to a drug company or whatever appropriate technology company. The drug company then owns the patent and sells the new technology at a hugely inflated price. This can sometimes yield hundreds of thousands ofdollars or even millions, but the student will not see a dime of it.

Secondly, I would like to also state that their are fewer academic scholarships that give "a full ride" than athletic scholarships. In fact, I know of only one or two that come close to offering the benefits that are available through athletic scholarships. Let's face it, when you see a brand new Mustang zipping past you on campus, the chances are good that it is not a biochemistry student.

Beyond that, I have a problem when people who are paid more per year for nine months (or fewer) of "work" than hard-working people who bust their rears working full-time in a McDonald's or Blockbuster Video, sit there and complain they don't get enough of the "pie".

Exceptionally upsetting to me is the idea that athletics should represent a larger portion of a public universities' budget. At the University of Arizona, academic programs have been cut because of budget constraints and tuition has just been raised. This editor would have it so that there would be even more cuts like this made in order for him to have a Sunday football game to go to.

Let's not forget what we have come to college for. Universities are institutions of higher learning and the NCAA are not intended to be a miniature version of the NBA.

Renee Denise Reichard
English and biochemistry senior