In modern times like these with so much access to information at our fingertips, it is very easy to look up some statistics (regardless of their validity or the source from which you obtained them) and form an opinion on a topic without engaging in critical thinking or being willing to integrate other perspectives. If you’ve ever taken Psych 280, you’ll learn about how people are “cognitive misers” and many are incapable or unwilling to do this. I believe this is exactly what Darrin Cline has done. Have you gotten to know any of the athletes personally? Have you engaged in conversations with the athletics staff, managers, graduate assistants, etc.? If you have, then I commend you, and it gives your letter some validity. If not, I’d highly encourage you to get engaged.

I must admit, I didn’t always have a positive opinion of student athletes. To me, they were just the loud, obnoxious individuals in the Academic Success Center taking up valuable space where I wanted to study. Granted, I had formed this perspective without really taking the time to talk to any of them or learn about their daily schedules, challenges and stigma they had faced in their lives because of their athlete-status.

My opinion didn’t start to change until I attended a session at the Iowa State Conference on Race and Ethnicity my sophomore year for my peer mentoring class. The session was about the student-athlete experience and some athletes from the football and basketball teams shared their experience with their strenuous practice schedules and stringent GPA and conduct guidelines. Before this, I hadn’t realized athletes had been under so much pressure from the university to perform well, and I began to realize why so many resources were allocated for their success. If they weren’t given so much support, it may be nearly impossible for them to be successful and graduate with all of the demands and expectations put upon them.

This past semester, I was afforded the opportunity of getting to know some of the student managers for the football and basketball teams, in addition to some of the graduate assistants for some of the athletics teams here. I was a facilitator for Leadership ISU, and one of my students was a student-athlete. She was able to give me her perspective on her experience as an athlete here at Iowa State. Through my discussions with them, I was even further able to realize how difficult being a student-athlete was and the pressure they faced, in addition to the constant stigma they faced, despite the claim that they are so revered and idolized by many.

The athletics department provides many positives, both for the student-athletes and students in attendance at the university. Many student-athletes come from oppressed backgrounds and social identities where college access may not be perceived as a reality for them. However, by becoming student-athletes and representing the university, they are able to attend college and develop the cognitive and psychosocial skills to be successful in life. Success in athletics competitions brings more awareness and recognition to the university, which can lead to higher enrollment, ultimately leading to more revenue for the university so it can support its students better. Also, for the general student population, nothing breaks up the monotony of classes better than cheering on the Cyclones to victory at Jack Trice and Hilton Coliseum. Attendance at athletics-related events increases student engagement, leading to higher GPAs, more student involvement, and ultimately higher retention and graduation rates.

Go Cyclones!