Should College Athletes Be Paid Essay

Why College Athletes Should Be Paid $53.4 Million the combined salary of the top 15 paid coaches in division 1 college football, $0 the combined salary of all student-athletes. Over the past few decades, college athletics have gained popularity across the United States. Whether it is football, basketball, or baseball, ever since the turn of the century, intercollegiate sports have brought in a surplus of revenue to their respective Universities. A recent study found that the University of Texas’ Athletic Program had the highest revenue of any other University at a little over $120 million. Yet with this large sum of money, NO college athletes are legally compensated for their work. According to NCAA rules, â€Å"You are not eligible for participation in a sport if you have ever: Taken pay or the promise of pay, for competing in that sport†. While it may seem odd and unjust to pay college athletes, the reality is that compensation of such athletes is a necessity not only to keep competition at a steady level in college athletics, but also to encourage students to graduate and get their college degrees. Student athletes should be compensated for their work, as they are the sole reason for the Athletic Program’s surplus in revenue. These athletes are working for the schools and are doing a service to the college that seems to go unnoticed. Colleges are using these athletes to boost their respective reputations and bring in revenue while not compensating these athletes for their work. Everywhere else athletes are paid, so why shouldn’t college students too? Some critics may argue that these student-athletes are amateurs, and if paid then are becoming professional athletes. The minor league for baseball could be considered an amateur sport, although they do receive pay according to the team’s revenue. Also, with all the time practicing and working in the classroom, how many athletes have time to actually get a job? Another argument that supports paying college athletes is that these â€Å"full-ride† scholarships given to the best athletes do not actually cover all their expenses. Many athletes still can’t afford to have their parents come to the stadium and watch the games. With all of the respect and publicity of these athletes, it goes unnoticed that a great deal of the players live very near to the poverty line. Due to this lack of money, black-markets are created. Here, boosters that represent the University give these playersâ€℠¢Ã‚  cars, spending money, or anything they truly want, and in return, these players go to their respective University. There have been many instances of this before, one prominent example is that of Reggie Bush, the running back for the University of Southern California from 2003-2005. Bush was paid by boosters to attend USC, which violated NCAA rules. Bush’s mother was having trouble paying rent for her apartment at the time in Pasadena. Bush felt obligated to take this offer, as there was no other way to make money and pay for his mother’s home. These boosters’ actions are not only are illegal, but create unfairness in competition amongst the NCAA. These universities that violate NCAA rules have an upper edge in recruiting top prospects. Schools are then tempted to violate such rules to even out the playing field. The last and arguably the most important reason to pay college athletes, is that it will ensure that most student-athletes will complete their college degrees. â€Å"Paying student-athletes would provide an incentive to stay in school and complete their degree programs, instead of leaving early for the professional leagues† Which brings me back to the question, â€Å"Should college athletes get paid?† If athletes are paid to play, not only can they cover some of their college expenses that scholarships couldn’t, but also now they will want to finish their education. NCAA prides itself on all student-athletes are students first and athletes second, however, it seems that more popular athletes leave early for the pros. In college basketball, many freshman stars are referred to as â€Å"one and done† players as they complete one year of college and go to the professional leagues early, as they want money and need it as soon as possible. The importance of their education is lost. The University seems to be hypocritical in its actions when it doesn’t pay its athletes, because it seems they support college athletes leaving for the Professional league early. One author suggests that every university pays the same flat rate to each college athlete for three years, and then offer a raise to senior athletes. This bonus will create that incentive for students to receive their degrees. While it may seem odd and unjust to pay college athletes, the reality is that compensation of such athletes is a necessity not only to keep competition at a steady level in college athletics, but also to encourage students to graduate and get their college degrees. The truth of the matter is that many college athletes are already being paid under the  table which creates a black-market that is not only illegal, but is also unfair to universities that abide by NCAA regulations. Universities are exploiting these students and allowing them not to receive any revenue that they clearly earned. College Athletes Should Be Paid! Works Cited â€Å"College Athletics.† Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/College_athletics. Transcript of Informational Hearing: College Athletes. Sacramento, CA, Senate Publications, 2003.

Platos Laches Essays

Platos Laches Essays Platos Laches Essay Platos Laches Essay During his lifetime Socrates’ various interactions with his fellow Athenians left his intentions debatable. Popular belief in Athens seemed to be that, â€Å"he [Socrates] was an evildoer, and a curious person, who searches into things under the earth and in heaven? and makes the worse appear the better cause† (Plato, pg. 5) as stated by the unofficial charges against him in The Apology. After discussions, his interlocutor’s were left confused in a state of aporia, with no conclusion. And so while negative views of Socrates became increasing popular in Athens right up until his death, Socrates was, on the contrary, serving as Athens’s benefactor, opening up their eyes to the truth of world in which they lived in. In Plato’s Laches, Socrates does in fact tear down his interlocutors’ claims but only to prove to them that they don’t know what they claim to know by exposing holes in their fundamental thoughts and to redirect them on a path to finding true knowledge. Through a method of elenchus, Socrates aimed to prove to his interlocutor that the ideas they held about certain topics were in fact false. When a person would come to him with a question, as Laches and Nicias do in Laches, Socrates would first direct the conversation in such a way that the question lying before the men is a foundational one, and not necessarily the original question. In his explanation of this Socrates states, â€Å"So, in a word, whenever a man considers a thing for the sake of another thing, he is taking counsel about that thing for the sake of which he was considering, and not about what he was investigating for the sake of something else† (Plato 185D) and redirects the question of whether or not young boys should learn the art of fighting in armor to how to care for the souls of young men. By doing this Socrates is able to expose the very source of his interlocutors’ belief system and demonstrate that if the basis of the system isn’t true nothing built on it can be true. Socrates goes on to have the men discus virtue, because they are trying to discover what virtue could be added to their sons’ souls to make them better men and because virtues are the basis for the moral ethics by which they live.. He then invites them to define a virtue: courage. When Laches gives a less than sufficient answer, Socrates rephrases his question and asks for a true definition of courage, one that would encompass every sort of courageous act. Eventually Laches gets to a point where he is unsure of how to proceed, saying, â€Å"I am really getting annoyed at being unable to express what I think in this ashion. I still think I know what courage is, but I can’t understand how it has escaped me just now so that I can’t pin it down in words and say what it is† (Plato 194B). By admitting that he is unable to concisely express the definition of something he considered himself knowledgeable about, Laches allowed Socrates’ method to have a refl ective effect on him. The dialogue ends in an aporia, or a state of unknowing, leaving Laches and Nicias still without an answer to whether or not young men should learn the art of fighting in armor and more importantly without what a proper definition of courage. They leave the conversation confused, realizing, that they don’t know what they thought they knew, which is what Socrates had originally intended for them to eventually understand. Coming out of a Socratic dialogue usually left the interlocutor feeling one of two ways. Laches, after conversing with Socrates and Nicias, is aware that he isn’t as informed on the idea of courage as he would have like to think, but still agrees to go Lysimachus’ house the next day to continue the discussion in hopes of revealing an answer. Being made aware of his shortcoming, instilled in him a desire to further explore it. Leaving the Socratic dialogue left Laches wanted more; because it ended in aporia, the only piece of knowledge he got of the conversation was that his definitions were wrong. Instead of giving Laches the answer, and having him just accept it as true, Socrates invited him to search for it, because in searching for an answer to the definition of courage, Laches would gradually begin to question and search for other pieces of knowledge relevant to his life, and it would become an ongoing process. However, other Athenians eventually grew tired of Socrates’ extensive questioning and can be seen in The Apology putting Socrates on trial for it. Instead of taking Socrates’ conversations for what they were worth, they labeled him as argumentative and a man who was corrupting the youth of the city. By breaking down his interlocutors’ various thoughts, ideas, and theses, Socrates was trying to reveal to them that they were not in fact wise and that the knowledge they thought they possessed was not true knowledge. Socrates himself was only considered wiser than his fellow Athenians because he considered his one piece of knowledge to be that he didn’t know anything. By breaking down, piece by piece, the arguments of those he conversed with, he intended for them to realize that their knowledge was relative and therefore meaningless in the grander scheme of things. By recognizing this, only then could they begin living a life in search of finding true meaning. In searching for meaningful things they would have to learn to question things. While he is on trial in The Apology, Socrates tells the jury that, â€Å"The unexamined life is not worth living† (Plato pg. 24) Living life without asking questions, and without inquiry, is not living life at all, and is therefore worthless. As an Athenian himself, Socrates wants to help the fellow men of his city led â€Å"examined† lives and is quick to let them know, if they do away with him, there might never be someone else who does for them what he is attempting to do. In conclusion, Socrates is

Structure V Agency Essays

Structure V Agency Essays Structure V Agency Essay Structure V Agency Essay Which of the key debates covered in weeks 1-4 is the most significant for sociology? Explain your answer with reference to at least one sociological topic. The Structure v Agency debate has been one of the most contentious within the sociological world. The argument comprises of whether structure (social systems) or Agency (our own individualistic nature) determine our paths in quotidian life. Giddens takes the following stance Society only has form, and that form only has effects on people, in so far as structure is produced and reproduced in what people do. This essay critically evaluates this controversial dualistic argument, in an attempt to establish why it is so significant for sociology. Giddens is also in favour of Agency coining the theory of ‘structuration’ claiming that â€Å"our activities both structure our social world and at the same time are structured by them† (Giddens, 2006:8). This means that people living within a societal structure are partly predisposed to oblige with its various cultural norms, values and rules. However, our individualistic nature shapes and defines this very structure. The structure’s rules are by no means permanent and evolve with time. This doesnt sound unreasonable until you consider just how detrimental little or no agency can be on a person. Restrictions are placed upon us from birth by parents hoping to mould their child into one that conforms to cultural norms and values. These are imposed on us through various actions and behaviors such as gender specific toys and the way both genders are treated. Boys are more likely to be told to hide pain while girls are considered more delicate. Society dictates that there is a cultural life path that you must follow in order to be accepted. Certain aspects of life are pre-planned by those in authority such as your parents or government institutions. Wright-Mills (1959) observes the institution of marriage, stating that â€Å"inside a marriage a man and a woman may experience personal troubles, but when the divorce rate during the first four years of marriage is 250 out of every 1,000 attempts, this is an indication of a structural issue having to do with the institutions of marriage and the family and other institutions that bear upon them. This observation is a strong indicator that suggests the reasons people get married is due to cultural pressures forcing a long term commitment to a partner that some individuals may not be prepared for. Another issue that can be derived from structure is suicide which is often regarded as a personal choice and anti-social. Statistical studies have concluded that suicide rates correlate annually, particularly at christmas. It can be argued that some people may feel alienated and segregated from the rest of society during festive periods. Durkhiem describes suicide as; â€Å"If voluntary deaths increase from January to July, it is not because heat disturbs the organism, but because social life is more intense. The latter depends on social conditions. † Durkhiem claims that suicide rates are higher in certain religious countries; for example catholicism is regarded as a more family orientated religion when compared with protestantism and the suicide rates reflect this. Suicide rates are lower when people are more integrated within the family structure. Being part of a loving happy family is deemed an important positive aspiration that is considered paramount within society. Religious beliefs are a transparent product of structure. Children are born into religious families whereby the process of indoctrination is immediately exercised through primary and secondary socialisation. It can be argued that as children move into adolescence they grow a deeper sense of agency and often start to reject or change the ideals bestowed upon them as a child through other doctrines such as atheism and agnosticism or branch towards different religious reformations such as Calvinism, Lutheranism and Anglicanism. There have been an estimated 2000 deities spanning many religions over the course of humanity which suggests that although children are indoctrinated early through societal structure their own modalities provide leverage that enables them to reshape their pre-existing ideologies through agency. Indoctrination is a serious issue in todays societies as over the course of history children that have been raised under this guise have gone onto commit acts of martyrdom through such causes as the crusades and in more recent times extremists sects of society particularly in the middle east. een in the 9/11 plane hijacks and 7/7 bombings. Hitchens (date) provides the following thoughts on religious upbringing â€Å"mass indoctrination of uneducated young men with such ideas is in itself a lethal danger to society and to international order. † Many sociologists query as to why religion seems to have dominated society over the past 4000 years. Marxist views may explain why structure has had such a persistent influence within capitalist societies as it can be argued that it provides the bourgeoisie with a dominant tool of mass exploitation of the proletariat both culturally and materially. Religion is the sigh of the oppressed culture, the heart of a heartless world just as it is the spirit of a spiritless situation. It is the opium of the people† (Marx). The proletariat put up with suffering on earth through various hardships such as work and poverty because of the promise of eternal reward in the afterlife. Understanding this debate is crucial for sociology because it’s members are so heavily integrated within society that they often cannot see these social barriers blocking their mobility. The working classes continue under a facade of agency while rendering the upper classes invisible and unquestioned. In conclusion, this essay has evaluated key points between structure and agency giving examples through such topics as religion, marriage, gender and suicide. It can be argued that Structure and Agency exist interdependently and that two ideologies are so delicately interconnected that to say one of them purely determines how people live their lives is one of much contention. It is important to agree however that in our society many inherent rules and restrictions have become archaic and are inimical to our interests if we want to progress towards a more desirable society. This is why the debate is so important for sociology as it allows us to further understand the inner workings of society and provide us with the tools to eventually build, reform and improve on existing foundations. Reference List: Giddens, A. , Pierson, C. 1998:77. ‘Giddens, Modernity and Self-Identity’ in Gauntlett, D. Media Gender and Identity, 2nd edition (London: Routledge) Giddens, A. 1973. Capitalism and Modern Social Theory: An Analysis of the Writings of Marx, Durkheim and Max Weber. Cambridge University Press. Hitchens, C. 2011. The Enemy. Amazon. [e-book] available at www. amazon. com. Wright Mills, C. 1959. The Sociological Imagination. Oxford University Press Durkhiem, E. (1997) [1951]. Suicide  : A Study In Sociology. The Free Press. Marx, K. 1943 [1970]. Critique of Hegels Philosophy of Right. Edited by Joseph O’Malley. Cambridge University Press.

Separate Nations essays

Separate Nations essays During the Indian removal of the early 1800s the 5 Civilized Tribes and other Indian tribes where dealt with as if they were small nations. Generally most people think of nations on a much larger scale. Indian tribes have some of the attributes we find familiar in other nations; language, religion, and social customs certainly set them a part from other Americans. Why do Indians believe that they are so much different from the rest of the mass of American culture and for the most part continue to resist assimilation? It has nothing to do with the complex culture and ancient traditions that have slowly died out and have no meaning over the years, as it does with the legal and political ideas developed over the centuries by Indians which give them a much different world view than the average American. Self Government is not a new idea, but has been burning in the minds of Indians for years. Not until the early 1960s did the idea of separate Indian nations take full force and Indian rights movements begin. Indian affairs are such a small portion of the domestic American scene that the federal Indian legislation no longer has a permanent committee in either houses of Congress. In 1824, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) was created by Congress as a division of the War Department to seek a military solution to the growing Indian problem. After the (BIA) relocated the Indians on to reservations, their main responsibility is to manage the 2.3 percent of American land on behalf of the various tribes. If the land and people are in such good hands with the (BIA) then why are some reservations referred to as rural ghettoes and not one of the 300 treaties between tribes and the U.S. Government been honored? If they are in such good hands then why are Indians the poorest race of people in the U.S. with the highest suicide rate and alcohol related illnesses? The U.S ...

Biography and Profile of Susan Rice

Biography and Profile of Susan Rice Name: Susan Elizabeth Rice Position: Nominated as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations by then President-elect Barack Obama on December 1, 2008 Born: November 17, 1964 in Washington, DC Education: Graduated National Cathedral School in Washington, DC in 1982 Undergraduate: Stanford University, B.A. in History, 1986. Graduate: Rhodes Scholar, New College, Oxford University, M.Phil., 1988 Oxford University, D.Phil. (Ph.D) in International Relations, 1990 Family Background Influences: Susan was born to Emmett J. Rice, Senior VP at the National Bank of Washington and Lois Dickson Rice, Senior VP for Government Affairs at Control Data Corporation. A Fulbright Scholar who served with the Tuskegee Airmen in WWII, Emmett integrated the Berkeley Fire Department as its first black fireman while earning a Ph.D. at the University of California; taught economics at Cornell as the only black assistant professor; and was a governor of the Federal Reserve from 1979-1986. A Radcliffe graduate, Lois was a former VP of the College Board and chaired an advisory council of the National Science Foundation. High School College Years: At the elite private girls school that Rice attended, she was nicknamed Spo (short for Sportin); she played three sports, was student council president and valedictorian. At home, the family entertained distinguished friends such as Madeleine Albright, who would later become the first female Secretary of State. At Stanford, Rice studied hard yet made her mark via political activism. To protest apartheid, she established a fund for alumni gifts with a catch - the funds could only be accessed if the university divested from companies conducting business with South Africa, or if apartheid were abolished. Professional Career: Senior foreign policy adviser to Senator Obama, 2005-08 Senior Fellow in Foreign Policy, Global Economy Development, Brookings Institution, 2002-present Senior adviser for National Security Affairs, Kerry-Edwards campaign, 2004 Managing Director Principal of Intellibridge International, 2001-02 Management consultant, McKinsey Company, 1991-93 Clinton Administration: Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, 1997-2001 Special Assistant to the President Senior Director for African Affairs, National Security Council (NSC), 1995-97 Director for International Organizations Peacekeeping, NSC, 1993-95 Political Career: While working on the presidential campaign of Michael Dukakis, an aide encouraged Rice to consider the National Security Council as a future career path. She began her stint with the NSC in peacekeeping and was soon promoted to senior director for African affairs. When she was named Assistant Secretary of State for Africa by President Bill Clinton at age 32, she became one of the youngest ever to hold that position. Her responsibilities included overseeing the actions of more than 40 nations and 5000 foreign service officials. Her appointment was regarded with skepticism by some US bureaucrats who cited her youth and inexperience; in Africa, concerns over cultural differences and her ability to deal effectively with traditional African male heads of state were raised. Yet Rices skill as a charming but firm negotiator and her unflagging determination have aided her in difficult situations. Even critics acknowledge her strengths; one prominent Africa scholar has called her dynamic, a quick study, and good on her feet. If confirmed as US ambassador, Susan Rice will be the second-youngest ambassador to the UN. Honors Awards: Co-recipient of the White House’s 2000 Samuel Nelson Drew Memorial Award for distinguished contributions to the formation of peaceful, cooperative relationships between states. Awarded the Chatham House-British International Studies Association Prize for the most distinguished doctoral dissertation in the UK in the field of International Relations. Personal Life: Susan Rice married Ian Cameron on September 12, 1992 in Washington, DC; the two met while at Stanford. Cameron is executive producer of ABC Newss This Week with George Stephanopoulos. The couple have two young children. Sources: Berman, Russell. Meet Obamas Tenacious, Take Charge Dr. Rice. NYSun.com, 28 January 2008.Brant, Martha. Into Africa. Stanford Magazine at Stanfordalumni.org, January/February 2000.Brookings Experts: Senior Fellow Susan E. Rice. Brookings.edu, retrieved 1 December 2008.Emmett J. Rice, Education of an Economist: From Fulbright Scholar to the Federal Reserve Board, 1951-1979. University of California Black Alumni Series, transcript of an interview conducted 18 May 1984.Stanford Alumni: Black Community Services Center Hall of Fame. Stanfordalumni.org, retrieved 1 December 2008.Times Topics: Susan E. Rice. NYTimes.com, retrieved 1 December 2008.WEDDINGS; Susan E. Rice, Ian Cameron.  New York Times, 13 September 1992.

Feminist Theory Reader- Critical Analysis Paper Term

Feminist Theory Reader- Critical Analysis - Term Paper Example Shakespearian tragedies were male-centered though some of his female characters like Lady Macbeth in â€Å"Macbeth† and Portia in the tragi-comedy, â€Å"The Merchant of Venice† expressed the glimpse of heroism. The presentation of women as suppressed under the male folk is not specifically the peculiarity of the literature of Shakespeare’s time, but one find it even in modern literatures as found in the plays of the modern dramatist Bernard Shaw. Shaw’s â€Å"Pygmalion† clearly reveals how the girl Eliza Doolittle is suffocating under Professor Henry’s treatment. Therefore, one can infer that history has not marked tremendous changes in the treatment of women in literature even if there were many feminist movements. Nevertheless, one cannot disregard the significant role of the various revolutionary feminist movements occurred during the first part of 19th century and spread all through the following centuries. The mushrooming of the feminis t movements facilitated women writing and witnessed some classical writing, purely challenging male chauvinism in both social and cultural life. Analyzing the feminist theories and writing, one may feel that they have the right claim of equality with the male folk, and should not be considered a second class. McCann & Kim (2003, p.1) identifies that â€Å"The term â€Å"feminism† usually refers in its most general sense to political activism by women on behalf of women.† They have also identified that feminism can be regarded as a movement that started in the 1970s which was actually originated in France in the 1880s. Analyzing the historical origin of the word ‘feminism’ one can see, â€Å"it combines the French word for woman, â€Å"femme,† with the suffix meaning political position, â€Å"ism,† and was used in that time and place to refer to those who defended the cause of women† (McCann & Kim, 2003, p.1). It was the French philosop her, Simone De Beauvoir who first used this term in The Second Sex which later spread all over the world. McCann & Kim (2003, p.1) have clearly stated the claim of feminism when they said thus, â€Å"Feminism involves the implicit claim that the prevailing conditions under which women live are unjust and must be changed.† The feminists also propounded the view that women have the ability to recognize the injustices that they face in their day to day life, and as such, they can change the existing situations. Thus, one can see that the feminists set out various theories that would promote their status totally refuting the present status as second class citizens. McCann & Kim (2003) in their book, "Feminist Theory Reader" explores the important works in feminist theory by incorporating the works of some of the feminists, specifically the women of color and post colonial scholars. These scholars provide both global and local perspectives of feminism by challenging the hegemony o f white, Western feminism, providing an approach to feminist theory for the twenty-first century. This is also to be noted that this approach includes the conversations among postcolonial women and women of color about issues of gender, race, colonialism, and sexuality as paramount to understanding the concerns of feminism (McCann & Kim, 2003). The feminists anthologized in this book are of the opinion that the females should endeavor to attain respect, mutual benefits, equal wages, a voice or presence in male dominated world. They solely have the right of liberty as the country itself has obtained it by

Personal Statement - Edit and Improve Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Personal Statement - Edit and Improve - Essay Example At the moment, I am studying international foundation programme at the University of Bristol. Besides, I take selected courses in English Literature and Communication Studies as the two main units. The foundation programme that I am enrolled to has provided me with ample chance to shape personal career goals based on clear understanding of contemporary issues. Therefore, it progressively nurtures my desire and attraction in media and communication facilitating a restructure of studies towards this field. An opportunity for studies in your university will empower and set me apart in my professionalism. Particularly, it will compliment my understanding of human relationship and new media products. The skills will enhance my relevance and further advance interests in media production and information dissemination. Apart from the academic life, I exhibit excellent leadership skills as I am currently the elected public relations official of the Chinese Society. The post provides me with a platform for interaction and enhances my communication skills. The roles also provide new insights about future occupation. Besides that, previous experiences show that I became adept in this sphere long before making this choice. In the past, I worked as a radio host at Only One Radio (Hong Kong) on a program about professional wrestling. It was particularly interesting, and I liked how music and lightning effect impacted on audience and stimulated their reactions from storylines. During this period, observation of crowd behaviors became valuable for as I learned how to influence public in subtle ways. In addition, I am a shareholder artist manager at WOW Entertainment (Hong Kong). The position has enabled me to perfect interpersonal relations with artists whom I helped in audition when the company started. The imperative lesson from the role is that everyone has his or her talent and sometimes individuals need to do talent