Reflecting on the Shame of College Sports: Should NCAA Div 1 Basketball and Football players get paid?

There are two separate sides to the argument on whether or not D1 college athletes should be paid. Both sides provide compelling arguments and should be considered equally, as this is a hot topic of debate currently.

For those who support paying college athletes, they argue that NCAA's current treatment of players is a form of indentured servitude. College athletes generate a significant amount of revenue for the colleges they play for, yet do not see any of that money themselves. It is argued that the athletes should be compensated for their hard work and dedication to their school and sport, and that it is unfair to withhold the wages earned by them. Another argument is that college athletes do not have the time to work a job, considering that school and their sport consume nearly all of their time. Since so much is being asked of them, college athletes should at least have some sort of allowance so that they are able to feed themselves and live comfortably. Some argue that college athletes' health and safety is put at risk during their participation in sports, so they should receive compensation for engaging in a sport that is high risk. That way, if they are injured, they are able to pay for the medical bills that occur with their injury.

For those against paying college athletes, they argue that the students are already given scholarships that pay for their tuition and part of their housing and food, so they do not need further compensation. The school is giving them opportunities that they would not otherwise be able to have had they not decided to play for the school. Those against paying college athletes argue that receiving free education and support from the school is payment for their participation in college sports. Another argument is that students voluntarily choose to play for their college team, and therefore their time and energy spent playing for their team is in a sense like volunteer work, and therefore they should not expect to be paid for something they are electing to do themselves.

I am caught in the middle of the debate on whether or not college athletes should be paid. I think that since so much money is being made off of the students, that there should be some compensation for their hard work since they are the ones out on the field/court putting in the work. On the other hand, I do believe that receiving a full-ride scholarship in exchange for playing on the college's team is an incredibly generous trade-off. Not only are the athletes gaining recognition for their athletic abilities, but they are also receiving a quality education that will help them for the rest of their lives. I am curious to see how this situation plays out in the future.