Lisa Nehus Saxon

In the following viewpoint, Lisa Nehus Saxon contends that college athletic department administrators need to emphasize academics over athletics. She asserts that athletic competitions often take precedence over schoolwork, with players missing classes in order to compete. Saxon maintains that colleges should take steps to ensure that athletes who receive scholarships acquire an adequate education, not just a degree, and can be legitimately labeled “student-athletes.” Saxon is a sportswriter for the Riverside Press-Enterprise.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. According to a National Collegiate Athletic Association survey, as cited by the author, how many classes did the average student-athlete miss each week?
2. In Saxon’s view, what would be one benefit of freshmen athletic ineligibility?
3. How should the term “student-athlete” be used, according to Saxon...