Karl Hobbs often said that he wondered if kids, like Omar Williams, would succeed in college if they were given structure. In Williams' case, he did. But is it right to allow people into a university who reportedly have far worse grades than the average student at the same school so they could play basketball and earn money for the university? That's a big question mark.
The answers to these questions exceed the bounds of this column but schools should consider the repercussions of giving people a chance. It may not be wrong; it may be the right thing to do, but look at Georgetown. They made the Final Four, but now Broadus will always have this hanging over his head. Schools should not allow students with such bad grades into universities for the sole purpose of winning basketball games. If they do that, Georgetown and GW should accept great flautists who never graduated high school to bring kudos to the orchestra program.
To the thousands of other students at college, think about this: do you support your university allowing students with sub-par grades for the purpose of boosting an athletic program?
But if universities want to maintain strong academic institution, I hope schools begin to seriously take a look at admission policies, because this thing is spiraling out of control.
The answers to these questions exceed the bounds of this column but schools should consider the repercussions of giving people a chance. It may not be wrong; it may be the right thing to do, but look at Georgetown. They made the Final Four, but now Broadus will always have this hanging over his head. Schools should not allow students with such bad grades into universities for the sole purpose of winning basketball games. If they do that, Georgetown and GW should accept great flautists who never graduated high school to bring kudos to the orchestra program.
To the thousands of other students at college, think about this: do you support your university allowing students with sub-par grades for the purpose of boosting an athletic program?
But if universities want to maintain strong academic institution, I hope schools begin to seriously take a look at admission policies, because this thing is spiraling out of control.
