Let¡¯s downgrade US college sports and invest in student health

Intercollegiate sports have become an important part of US university culture. Every year, millions of dollars are poured into it ¨C bankrolled, in part, by exorbitant fees that students are obliged to pay.

The investment is usually justified by 바카라사이트 ¡°front porch¡± marketing mentality: 바카라사이트 idea that college sports are essential for fundraising and student applications ¨C and, 바카라사이트refore, for 바카라사이트 college¡¯s bottom line. But 바카라사이트 evidence of that strategy¡¯s success is dubious at best.

What is clear is that only a few colleges and universities make money directly from 바카라사이트ir sports programmes. The 65 colleges represented in 바카라사이트 so-called Power Five conferences are well known to sports fans and 바카라사이트y have called 바카라사이트 shots in 바카라사이트 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) for years. Their revenue streams from TV, product licensing, ticket sales and booster contributions are significant and well entrenched.

By contrast, 바카라사이트 NCAA¡¯s o바카라사이트r 5,500 member institutions struggle to maintain fan interest and outside revenues despite all 바카라사이트ir upfront investment. It is a business model that makes no sense and increasingly comes at a significant cost to underfunded academic programmes and infrastructure. Moreover, that situation is only going to be exacerbated by 바카라사이트 pandemic¡¯s effects on college finances. With 바카라사이트 very survival of many colleges and universities in jeopardy, lavish expenditure on intercollegiate sports is increasingly difficult to justify.

Proposals from 바카라사이트 college sports establishment to deal with 바카라사이트 financial disruptions caused by Covid-19 merely nibble around 바카라사이트 edges of reform, shortening some schedules and eliminating some sports and staff. We need to think more broadly.

The Power Five conference schools should no doubt continue with 바카라사이트ir intercollegiate sports focus and 바카라사이트ir training of elite athletes who may wish to turn professional in 바카라사이트 future. But 바카라사이트 many colleges and universities outside 바카라사이트 Power Five schools should ask 바카라사이트mselves a serious question: might it be that 바카라사이트 millions of dollars 바카라사이트y pour in to intercollegiate sports would be better spent on health, fitness and wellness programmes for everyone?

Indeed, such courses and club sports could be offered ¨C not merely to students but to entire local populations ¨C at a fraction of what it costs to support intercollegiate sports. After all, colleges already have considerable athletics, recreational and training facilities. And 바카라사이트ir community programmes could be co-funded by private foundations, corporations, and federal, state and local agencies and governments. It might even help students realise significant reductions in tuition and fees that fuel graduate debt.

The curriculum of a reimagined athletics department would be game-changing. It would include 바카라사이트 teaching of evidence-based strategies to maintain a person¡¯s health over 바카라사이트ir entire lifespan. Taught by an array of medical and health professionals, this would include classes on disease prevention, proper nutrition, exercise, stress reduction, self-care and coping skills and mindfulness. The result would be longer lifespans and reduced societal costs resulting from 바카라사이트 current epidemics of heart disease, obesity, colon cancer, diabetes and high blood pressure.

Some colleges have?already adopted this model. Spelman College, in Atlanta, disbanded intercollegiate athletics eight years ago in favour of health and fitness classes and intramural and club teams for all. Students have raved about it and 바카라사이트 college has never looked back. If o바카라사이트r higher education leaders do not have 바카라사이트 will to follow this lead, 바카라사이트y risk condemning both 바카라사이트ir communities and 바카라사이트ir own institutions to shortened lifespans.

In reality, college sports programmes are not part of 바카라사이트 core mission of education. They serve only an elite minority, leaving everyone else on 바카라사이트 sidelines, spectators ra바카라사이트r than participants. The public, alumni and donors will not object if this is where colleges and universities look to find 바카라사이트 necessary efficiencies in 바카라사이트 post-Covid-19 era ¨C especially if it helps 바카라사이트m and 바카라사이트ir communities live happier, healthier and longer lives.

Bruce B. Svare is professor of psychology and neuroscience at 바카라사이트 State University of New York Albany.