STUDENT OR EMPLOYEE?

Dear Editor: 

The National Labor Relations Board has ruled that college football players at Northwestern University are in actuality “employees” of the university due to their time commitment to the sport” and “their scholarships were tied directly to their performance on the field.”   As a result, they can form a union.  Say goodbye to the so-called “student/athlete.” 

This brings up interesting possibilities.  If they are truly “employees,” as the NLRB has ruled, their pay, desire for share of ticket sales, bowl game bonus are all taxable on a federal and state level.  In addition their other “employee” benefits compensation package of full scholarships: tuition and fees $45,527, room & board $13,862 and books and supplies $1871, for a total of $61,260 per year, should also be taxed since they are “employees” and no longer just student/athletes.  Any other “employees” at the University have to pay those taxes and have deductions for Social Security and Medicare. 

If this spreads, say goodbye to major college athletics as we know it today.  The student/athlete will become a thing of the past.  You have to be fish or fowl (student or employee.)  Some will say that this won’t happen and is just a negative way to look at the desire to put money into the hands of the players. Don’t kid yourself.  It will take our favorite sports away from the university and NCAA and put it into the hands of labor unions, which don’t have a place in college sports.