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Don't be a crook, read a book

Wildcat File Photo Arizona Daily Wildcat Mike Jenkens

If you have read the Arizona Daily Wildcat in the past few days, you have seen the series of articles focusing on student-athletes' roles at the University of Arizona.

You have learned about their rigorous schedules and long hours of preparation for their upcoming games or meets. You have also learned that the students interviewed are trying to get their degree, working hard at trying to finish their education.

This is enlightening to see in this crazy, mixed-up world we live in.

This is the reason that student-athletes should be at a university - to finish their education and get ready to move into the real world after most of their athletic careers end.

Of course, not all student-athletes are here to get an education. Look at the graduation rates of the three major sports at Arizona. Baseball is less than 40 percent, men's basketball is right at 40 percent and football is the highest at 57 percent. I applaud Coach Tomey for having the highest graduation rate out of the three.

My problem with the college atmosphere today is that student-athletes are using college as a stepping stone to their pro careers.

People ask, "why shouldn't they, if they can make it?" That "if you can make it" is a huge if. Not many college football players make it to the NFL. Based on last year's Arizona football team, one player is starting on an NFL team, and only three others survived the cut process. With only 29 NBA teams and 114 Division I-A college basketball teams, your chances are next to none. Get an education.

But don't cheat your way to an education. The University of Tennessee is being investigated for tampering with student papers. The director of tutors for the athletic department willingly moved on to another university for "lack of control of the tutoring process." She stated that she found problems that could be direct violations of the NCAA code of conduct. These problems were ignored by the assistant athletic director, and he hired a new tutor director. This tutor director also moved on after she felt that serious problems within the department were ignored by people in higher positions. These problems dealt with tutors writing papers for the students among other violations dealing with plagiarized work.

The University of Wisconsin has also been investigated recently for student fraud involving student-athletes and are awaiting their punishment by the NCAA for these infractions.

My whole point is that by cheating, the only people you hurt are the university and yourself. You will get caught, and when you do, you might open up a window that the NCAA Infraction Committee might slither through.

The University of Arizona has been squeaky clean and does not need a scandal. Do your own work and no problems will occur.