This year alone, each student was charged $200 for something unrelated to education: athletics. A bit more than $6.4 million this year!

Since when does running around in spandex and playing with an object cost $246.50 per year? This is the proposed expense for intercollegiate athletics next year. If you ask me, I would run around in spandex and play with an object for free.

Let us be honest, sports is not a venture which screams “higher education!”

Last time I checked, I came here for an education, not entertainment in the form of intercollegiate athletics. I am a student. I buy books and participate in organizations. I can only work part time jobs and I can only afford so much. Students have to pay for meals, gas, housing, etc. Intercollegiate athletics are like leeches on student monies, the expense should not be a “mandatory” burden of the student body.

A student concerned for opportunities for athletics and physical fitness would ask, “Is this fee to assist in enhancing student health and athleticism?” The answer would be Campus recreation and Carmichael Gymnasium have their own slice of student fees; $157.60 for ‘08-’09 and a proposed $189.10 for ‘09-’10.

A  student concerned about money (every single one of us during a recession) would rightfully inquire, “Since when is intercollegiate athleticism a ‘necessity’ for a school? Why does a small percentage of the student body admitted for athleticism when other students actually have brain power?”

Student athletes pay the minimum, with their own tutors and better food in Case Dining Hall. I wonder why students don’t refer to students as well-educated panhandlers. Nonstudent athletes pay for all of these amenities and never see the benefits.

This University’s monetary expenditures are atrocious and heinous. Since when is being a spendthrift “mandatory?” I liken this administrative activity to squandering, pilfering and daylight robbery. The administration better get their act together at this University. They reek of the “ivory tower.” I guess it is easy to throw away money you don’t work for.  Surely there are better ways to spend roughly $6.4 million.

Even if athletes had feces that smelled of roses, I doubt I’d want to swell heads and empty my pockets for athletics ever.

What’s sad is, in four years, I can count on one hand the number of times I have gone to an athletic event. I’ve spent about $200 to attend four meaningless and inconsequential events. I forgot, sports do have a purpose: to waste time and money and distract people from worthy concerns, like improving the world.

Intercollegiate athletics are of little consequence to the advancement of education. It should be treated as a luxury, not a necessity. Students are being exploited for hundreds of dollars every year.  All of this in the name of prestige? Going bottom-up is the contrary in my opinion.

The University should cut expenses for intercollegiate games. Only students who attend intercollegiate athletics should pay for expenses.

Why not use this $6.4 million to assist maintaining departments? Teachers haven’t got enough work, some have too much time to prioritize. As a University we should not be weighing in on issues such as spandex and lollygagging instead of quality of teachers and classes.

Send your thoughts on athletics to Mansoor at letters@technicianonline.com