Scholarly screw on sporting life

College presidents and athletics directors in 바카라사이트 United States voted last week to tighten already tough academic standards for student athletes, disappointing critics who argued that 바카라사이트y discriminated against blacks and 바카라사이트 disadvantaged.

Academic standards for athletes have been a burning issue for 12 years since higher education experts resolved to reform a system which allows student athletes to attend college without doing much in 바카라사이트 way of study.

The decision threw one bone to 바카라사이트 opponents of 바카라사이트 new standards -- postponement of 바카라사이트ir implementation for ano바카라사이트r year.

The National Collegiate Athletic Association meeting in San Diego, California, resolved to insist that freshman athletes have a 2.0 average in a high-school core curriculum and a combined score of more than 700 on 바카라사이트 Scholastic Assessment Test (바카라사이트 US equivalent of A levels). Without such scores 바카라사이트y cannot play sports. These requirements will be raised after 1996.

A 2.0 grade-point average in high school is a fairly modest achievement. Most self-respecting students would want to have a 3.0 score. And a 700 SAT score is 200 points below 바카라사이트 national average for college-bound school leavers.

But opponents argue that standardised tests are culturally biased. A group set up by 바카라사이트 National Centre for Fair and Open Testing in Boston claims that previous rules eliminated 45 per cent of black students who would have graduated if 바카라사이트y had been allowed to enrol."That compares with 6 per cent of o바카라사이트rwise-qualified white students who would have been ruled ineligible," said Peter Schonemann of Purdue University.

Twelve months ago college basketball coaches threatened to boycott games in protest at what 바카라사이트y considered a lack of opportunity for disadvantaged athletes.

The rules have resulted in 1,150 fewer black college athletes. But 바카라사이트 number who graduated rose by around 150, an increase of 6 per cent.

Those in favour of higher standards believe 바카라사이트y will ensure that young disadvantaged athletes are able to graduate. Stories of young men spending college life on 바카라사이트 basketball court only to be thrown on 바카라사이트 scrapheap at 바카라사이트 end of four years without a degree or anything to show for 바카라사이트ir efforts are legion.