Printer-friendly version
PDF version
As a University of Minnesota student-athlete, I was appalled by the ignorant tone of Ashley Dresser’s Monday column “Universities need to turn Basque to basics.” It is high time to showcase the amazing contributions student-athletes have made to the University. I am growing tired of lazy journalism that ridicules what is, on the whole, an extraordinary set of individuals.
Dresser attempts to draw parallels between Eric Decker’s injury and the recent arrest of Basque militants even while admitting the two incidents are incomparable. She then goes on to depict the University as imposing a sports-fanatic culture on her, just as the Spanish government has tried to impose Spanish culture on the Basque people. This is all done to argue for the separation of athletics from the other facets of the University.
If Dresser had considered the integral role student-athletes play in Minnesota athletics and the dual roles expected of them, surely she would have realized that any separation of the University and sports is wholly impossible and borderline ridiculous.
Look up Ashley Nord, the latest Rhodes Scholar from the University, one of only 32 such individuals selected from the United States and a former Gophers track athlete.
While you are at it, you could talk to Hassan Mead, a five-time All-American in only four seasons of competition. He has a fascinating story of coming to America knowing no English and is now thriving as an athlete and a student. Talk to the director of student-athlete welfare to see the multitude of community service programs Gophers athletes engage in.
The unavoidable truth — perhaps an inconvenient one for many writers — is that the majority of University student-athletes pursue their athletics with passion while simultaneously outperforming their non-athlete peers in the classroom.
Please, writers, the next time you write about the University imposing crushing financial burdens to pay for the stadium, remember to give credit where credit is due.
Mike Torchia
University undergraduate student
Serving the University of Minnesota Community since 1900
3 Comments
To comment, please login.
Really?
Did you mean for this letter to be published on the same day as articles about Basketball player and Football player thuggery? Hassan Mead is absolutely a great runner. How does that contribute to the academic success of this university? Wouldn't Ashley Nord still be a Rhodes Scholar without being in a sport? This is a research University, and I've seen 15 articles about Eric Decker but can't remember the last article about research. I know they have some, but it's obviously not a priority of the administration or the MN Daily.
Athletics do nothing but take away from this University, financially and otherwise. You should be ashamed to be a student athlete when you are thoroughly represented by trash that does not belong at this SCHOOL.
Really??
Ok, obviously you did not research who Mike Torchia is. If you happened to type his name into a search engine, you find that he basically is one of the best people you will ever meet. And by the term "best", I mean that he has done more volunteer work than most anyone at the University of Minnesota. Mike has been to Peru to raise funds for orphans so that they may go to college, along with many other trips he has made for charity work. He also happens to be one of the best runners ever seen by this University, but he does not flaunt it. On top of all that work that he puts himself everyday, he also maintains near a 4.0 GPA. I will agree with you that there are some athletes at this University that do make mistakes and it is unfortunate that the media chooses to publish their downfalls, but what human being does not make mistakes. From listening to Mike talk to his peers, he not proud of the fact that these select athletes believe their status as athletes gives them the right to do anything they want. But why should he be criticized by their flaws. Why should any athlete? I totally agree with you that the media portrays the flaws of athletes more than the great work of the U, such as the group of individuals that have made solar cookers that melt garbage plastic. The plastic is then molded into footwear, utensils, and other objects that are useful for 3rd world countries. But why should we shun athletes that are trying to make this world a better place.
Again
And today, another article about a football player beating his girlfriend in public, while Royce White is arrested again for stealing. I do know something about Mike Torchia, like that he is not in an easy undergrad program and he is doing fine. I don't think we should shun athletes. But I think it should be clear to Mike or anyone else why no one focuses what athletes accomplish in their every day lives. How about, "who cares?". No one writes articles about how great I am, and I don't bitch. Be as great as you want to be, all that matters is that you have real friends.
How am I supposed to read articles every day about athletes commiting crimes? I don't even care that they have a sense of entitlement, I care that they are actually entitled. Royce White doesn't deserve to be a student at this school, and the same goes for several members of the football team. The person who deserves the most blame is Tim Brewster, an overpaid underperforming moron. We gave the football team hundredds of millions of dollars to lose games and get into fights with students. That I have managed not to swear or punch a wall while writing this is amazing. What am I supposed to do? How can I get an education at a good university without subsidizing these jackasses?
I definitely don't have a problem with student athletes in general. I do have a problem with athletics scholarships, just like I have a problem with bibles in courtrooms. This is a school. People come here to learn, and that education should not be contingent on your willingness to help fund a new football stadium. I'm just gonna keep bitching so I'll stop now.