This position paper examines how American universities can more closely align their financial investment in intercollegiate athletics with the overarching educational mission of the institution. Rather than providing an institutional subsidy, universities should consider investing in tuition waivers for student athletes as the only institutional financial support of the athletic department. By doing so institutions would better acknowledge the educational elements of athletics while also helping to promote a positive campus culture around athletics, thus alleviating some of the divisive undercurrents of educators versus athletes that are prevalent on many university campuses today.
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