Published 2009-01-28T00:00:00Z”/>
Natalia Ferruggia
If we dig into archived yearbooks and take a look at my eighth-grade photo, you’ll see me wearing a Chicago Bulls jersey.
You guessed it. I’m a fanatic for Michael Jordan and have an “M Jae” tattoo, but don’t be quick to label me as weirdo. I grew up loving MJ for his fly shoes and skills.
MJ’s son, Jeff Jordan, walked on as a freshman guard at the University of Illinois in 2007 without an athletic scholarship. Having a six-time NBA champion as his dad or the last name Jordan still couldn’t help the young athlete get scholarship offers.
Jeff Jordan, now a sophomore, was recently awarded a full scholarship because he earned the notoriety of being a key contributor for the team.
Every student athlete like Jeff Jordan should be awarded full scholarships. Some fans may argue players like Jeff shouldn’t be awarded with any financial aid because his family is wealthy, but the university ultimately makes a fortune off these players.
Jeff Jordan had nationally televised games his freshman year, increasing the benefits for the university. They use these athletes as marketing tools – so why shouldn’t these athletes receive a free ride?
While extravagant gift-giving and event-ticket shortages aren’t part of the sports culture in Chico, they are in other schools. The Florida State Seminoles, for example, encourage their supporters to take pride in knowing their tax-deductible gifts fund life-changing opportunities.
It’s no surprise college boosters give gifts to athletes and coaching staff members for attendance to championship games – especially football bowl games. In 2007, the Orange County Register reported the Texas A&M Aggies spent $133,645 on awards for players and staff for the 2006 Holiday Bowl.
Instead of plasma TVs or vacation packages, funding should be allocated for scholarships. This money would provide life-changing opportunities, not unimportant material goods.
The Seminoles Web site also encourages their supporters to give money and defines booster “loyalty” strictly in monetary terms. Assigned seats are based on dollars given.
With the California budget crisis, athletic scholarships are nearly impossible to come by in the CSU system. Schools have to fundraise in order to pay for travel costs and even equipment.
These days, everyone’s watching their money in this tough economy, and it’s high time colleges started thinking about how they’re spending theirs. Plane flights are more important than plasma TVs and, as Jeff Jordan has shown us, earning your scholarship is more important than having a famous dad.
Natalia can be reached at <a href= “mailto:[email protected]”>[email protected]</a>
