The Student Athlete: Too Priveleged?

Xavier Baisden

Student Athletes are some of the most privileged people on college campuses. They are typically given full ride scholarships that cover all costs associated with their education, free apparel for their school, priority in registering for classes, and generally breaks and opportunities not afforded to the average student. However, with the recent controversies regarding student athletes, the question that raises is: Are they afforded too many priveleges? And in turn does this lead to their recklessness in society or belief that they are above the law?
Recently, there have been multiple controversies involving college student athletes breaking rules, whether it be with the NCAA or the law. Most notably, three University of Tenessee were arrested and charged with attempted armed robbery after they attempted to rob people with a pellet gun at a local gas station. However, this was far from the first time that a student athlete has been implicated in a wrongdoing. Other prominent student athletes involved in wrong doings include Derrick Rose, Reggie Bush, and Dez Bryant. The constant involvement of student athletes in legal cases brings to the forefront the question: Do student athletes consider themselves above the law?
In order to keep the student athlete in line, more should be done to show them that they are not above the law. They should in fact have less privileges than the average student, due to them being essentially a paid representative of not only the program, but the university as a whole. They should be considered role models for others, and their actions should be representative of such.