Short term

Solutions

While these solutions may provide answers to current issues regarding the exploitation of college athletes, they won't necessarily benefit future athletes. We hope that eventually colleges, universities and the NCAA won't be able to profit off athletes without properly accommodating their work. But these solutions are the stepping stones to ensuring our long term solutions will solve the issues regarding the exploitation of college athletes.

College athletes should be paid

College athletes face enough stress and pressures while playing college sports and money stress should not be one of them. They're already bombarded with back to back responsibilities juggling both school and athletics and have very little time to get a job, let alone focus on their school work. The NCAA makes millions off of college athletes for their success and none of the profits are given to them. An article by Vice stated that in 2014 alone, "124 schools with major football teams brought in a combined $8.2 billion in athletic revenue" and none of these profits went to college athletes (Hruby). The NCAA doesn't believe college athletes deserve to be paid because in their eyes college sports are on the amateur level. Yet many athletes work just as hard as any professional team out there, while also tackling heavy loads of school work. Thanks to the current NCAA regulations it prevents "student athletes from executing endorsement deals or accepting payment for the use of their images" (Kelly). Regardless of what the NCAA says, college athletes deserve to be paid, professional or not. They're putting their blood, sweat and tears into sports and to not be paid for their hard work is wrong. Many athletes have no desire to go pro, but even so, these athletes should be paid for their efforts. If it weren't for them, colleges and the NCAA wouldn't be nearly as wealthy as they are. Although paying athletes won't stop the NCAA from profiting off of college athletes, it will provide them with financial relief. As well as accommodate them for the hard work they put into making colleges, universities, and the NCAA millions every year.

more diversity

We need more diversity in college sports and we need it now. The disproportion of athletes of color to white athletes is appalling and it prevents families of low income a chance at a higher education. College sports allow many athletes of color to pay for college because of the athletic scholarships offered. In the 2019 report from the NCAA, 56% of Division I athletes were white and 43% were of color. Black athletes alone only made up 21%, Hispanic/Latino 5%, and Asian only 2%. The other 15% were either unknown or students with more than one race. The lack of representation is saddening to say the least and it brings up the question as to why there is such an imbalance of white athletes to athletes of color. What makes white athletes more qualified than athletes of color? Is it because many athletes of color come from low income families? Is it because their grades aren't as impressive as their white peers? We cannot simply say that colleges are treating athletes equally to make it "fair" because then we fail to see the inequities athletes of color face. Having more diversity in college sports shouldn't be treated as a requirement colleges can check off a list of things they need to complete. More diversity not only allows more athletes of color to be given the chance of a higher education, but it also allows everyone to learn from each other and right the wrongs our ancestors failed to fix. We believe that more diversity will provide more opportunities to less fortunate athletes, but it won't stop colleges, universities, and the NCAA from exploiting athletes from their likeness and talent.