Alexander Putterman, Assistant Sports Editor from the Daily Northwestern, will be joining us as our guest speaker.

From New York Times: “Northwestern Football Players Want To Unionize: Is That OK?” by Mark Memmott

 

“As NPR’s David Schaper said on Morning Edition, the players ‘argue they’re not just students who play sports, but employees who work more than 40 hours a week for the university, training, practicing and playing games that bring millions in revenue to the school.’ The scholarships that many receive don’t fully reflect their value to the school, the players argue. So, they say they should be able to bargain collectively. The NCAA objects, saying that ‘this union-backed attempt to turn student-athletes into employees undermines the purpose of college: an education.’ “

What would it mean for a university’s student athletes to be able to form a union?  What factors should determine whether players are compensated? How might union membership address health risks associated with the sport, such as concussions? What kind of alternatives exist to protect young players from health risks? How has the media’s coverage of college sports contributed to or inhibited this discussion?