Posts tagged student-athletes
Dartmouth Basketball Players can now Unionize
February 8, 2024 // The players were ruled to be employees of the school, meaning they can unionize. Not only will the players be able to negotiate their salaries, but also their practice hours and when they will travel to and from games. However, this would go against the NCAA’s amateurism rule, which states that athletes can not be compensated for competing in college athletics unless the money they receive is from scholarships and expenses. The problem is that Ivy League schools do not award scholarships for athletics meaning the Dartmouth men’s basketball team are essentially playing for free. Another problem is that these athletes are being overworked. According to the players, they testified that they were spending over 40 hours a week playing basketball. The NCAA only allows teams to practice 20 hours a week.
Dartmouth Men’s Basketball Makes Employment Case at NLRB
October 6, 2023 // Houston also noted that Dartmouth can recruit a basketball player, provide him need-based financial aid, and then, for one of many reasons, dismiss the player from the team after he enrolls. If the student remains enrolled at Dartmouth as a student, he’ll continue to receive financial aid. That point was designed to show the aid is based on being a student, not a player. Houston also stressed that athletes at Dartmouth are repeatedly told they must prioritize their education and class attendance, including when there are scheduling conflicts with the team. He further said that the athletic department “has no say over admissions,” decisions for which are made by the admissions office, nor does the athletic department have any say over financial aid, and that aid itself has nothing to do with athletic talent.