Anthropology Prof. Fred Damon recently expressed concern about the academic performance of athletes and the role of those athletes' coaches at a Jan. 30 Faculty Senate meeting. During the meeting, Damon publicly urged for an increased faculty role in the athlete recruitment process.
According to University athletics director Craig Littlepage, Damon primarily focused on the role faculty play -- or, rather, do not play -- in the recruitment process at the initial meeting. Now, though, Damon has made it clear other issues beyond the faculty realm are also on his mind.
According to Damon, a rift between professors and coaches exists; the two groups, he said, have "radically different expectations of what's important."
Some student-athletes, Damon also noted, "do not take their classes seriously" and act as if they are above the academic system because of their position in the University community.
Littlepage, however, said it may be only select students who act in the manner Damon describes. He added that neglecting one's academics is a personal decision not necessarily exclusive to student-athletes.
"We want to assure that our students are taking their responsibilities seriously, and that most of our student-athletes are doing that now," Littlepage said.
Any accusation, therefore, that University athletes are held to -- or should be held to -- a lower academic standard, is simply not true, Littlepage noted.
Moreover, Littlepage said if such a climate existed or was promoted by his department, "it wouldn't be fine by me, not at all."
Damon, meanwhile, said he is concerned about more than just athletes' academic attitudes -- he is also concerned about the role coaches play.
Coaches, Damon suggested, might take a more active role in mediating between students and professors.
"A common element between the coaching staff and the professors is that we all work extremely hard and try to do the best we can and would like to see success in the University," Damon said. "It would be better if coaches had a better sense of who professors were and in some cases what they do."
Littlepage said, though, there is already a system in place designed to accomplish almost identical goals -- and it is one that avoids getting coaches involved.
"There's a professional staff that coordinates with deans and faculty," Littlepage said, noting that this staff has a clear understanding of what students' academic requirements are and of the necessary balance between academic and athletic responsibility. Littlepage added that conflicts between athletes and professors do not present opportunities for coach involvement.
"We don't really have our coaches do that," Littlepage said. "We keep them at more of an arm's length."
Still, Damon said he raised the issue of increased faculty participation in the athlete recruitment process at the Faculty Senate meeting in the hope that both groups could make communicative inroads.
In this regard, Littlepage said his office "would be open to looking at expanding the roles, but many would be surprised as to the extent faculty are [already] used for recruitment purposes."
Damon, meanwhile, also admits that the concerns he has recently raised are complicated.
"Most of us would like all of our students to produce A work," Damon said. "The University reflects contradictions of our society."
Damon and Littlepage are scheduled to meet in the near future to discuss the issues further.
"I'm happy we can have this kind of dialogue about what different constituencies see," Littlepage said.
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