Why College Athletes and Activism Belong Together
By Shanell Hagood
“…shut up and dribble…”
Source: 22 West Magazine, 2017
These were the cringing words Fox News analyst, Laura Ingraham directed to basketball superstar, LeBron James. Ingraham’s words were in response to James’ interview with ESPN’s Cari Championspeaking on the state of our country and Donald Trump. These comments added to the growing conversation of activism in sports. Sports legends such as Jesse Owens, Muhammad Ali, and Jackie Robinson used their platform to express political beliefs and represent themselves beyond an athletic identity. College athletes have also used their platform in college sports to represent themselves beyond their athletic identity. Nigel Hayes at the University of Wisconsinand the Virginia Tech volleyball teamboth participated in silent protest as student-athletes. Professional athletes such as LeBron James and Muhammad Ali have and had a much bigger influence and platform when engaging in activism as athletes than student-athletes currently hold. However, their engagement with activism is still important and can influence change.
First off, college athletes have power. The demonstration of the University of Missouri’s football team standing in solidarity with student activists at their institution to change leadership is a testament to that. Several demonstrations were made leading up to the removal of then president, Tim Wolfe including student rallies, a hunger strike, and alumni engagement. However, it was the football team standing in solidarity with those movements that led to meeting an actionable the next day.
Bigger than institutional power, is the national power student-athletes hold. Data from USA Today and the U.S. Department of Educationincluded 231 NCAA Division schools and combined, generated a total of $9.15 billion. Additionally, the NCAA supports that their money mainly comes from two sources: Division I Men’s Basketball Championship television and marketing rights and Championship ticket sales. College athletes are the reason that revenue exists. However, college athletes have no stake in how that money is distributed-institutions and the NCAA decide. What if college athletes stood together as money-makers for their institutions and the NCAA to influence change on how to spend the revenue?
This happens through organizing. Let’s look at the recent NCAA basketball scandal, which indicates that college basketball players have a desire to receive compensation for their services. Instead of going through an illegal process to get paid, organize to get paid legally:
Collaborate with others that share in the cause:These can be other student-athletes at your institution or others.
Establish demands/goals of your target:What is the purpose of your cause? What are the desired outcomes and suggestions for implementation?
Use your national platform to bring awareness: Media days, post-game interviews, social media accounts
Hurt their pockets: Holding protests during nationally televised games
Another issue college athletes can use these action steps for is the ability to use their name and likeness to earn money. University of Iowa swimmers started a t-shirt companyand did not use their identity as athletes to promote their company but were in violation of NCAA for earning money. Texas A&M Cross Country Runner received a citation from the NCAAfor promoting his water bottle company using his identity as a student-athlete, also in violation of the NCAA. College athletes like the ones listed above have taken issue with these citations because the NCAA uses the players’ names and likeness to promote nationally televised games and sell video games with college athletes on the cover, but athletes are not allowed to do it for themselves. Most college athletes will not play professionally and earn money. For a majority of them, the platform they have as a student-athlete is their best chance at using their likeness and identity as an athlete to earn money.
The verdict is out; athletes are upset with the NCAA. Once college athletes leave, the NCAA and go on to the professional sports or other endeavors in life, they speak out about their disagreement with the way athletes are being exploited. Philadelphia 76er rookie, Ben Simmons played one year at Louisiana State University (LSU) before declaring for the NBA Draft after becoming eligible. He spoke out as a professional athlete in the film, “One and Done,” blasting the NCAA saying that everybody is making money but the athletes who are putting in the work. They are several professional athletes that share his sentiments. If those feelings exist as a participant in NCAA sports, are college athletes being complicit by not engaging in activism?