The Ann Arbor News continues its fantastic reporting today on the disgusting state of the University of Michigan's treatment of "student-athletes" with a report on a major that only 3% of the thousands of undergraduates at UM take, but 49% of those taking are athletes.
Yes, I'm talking about "General Studies."
You may ask yourself, what the heck does that mean, anyway? You tell me. I have no idea. Someone who does know, is former UM president James Duderstadt, who wrote a book called "Intercollegiate Athletetics and the American University."
Duderstadt asks the question,
"Where else can athletes with weak academic skills be accommodated in a university with competitive academic admissions and rigorous academic programs? This, of course, is a question many leading universities face, from Michigan to Berkeley, and Duke to Stanford...
Since these soon become well known to coaches and academic advisors, student-athletes with weaker academic skills are steered toward these safe harbors. Since one can rarely find enough cupcake courses to comprise a true major, some universities have actually created degrees such as a Bachelor of General Studies to facilitate such a strategy."
He calls it like he sees it.
Something else the News has picked up on is Shari Acho, an "academic counselor" whose job seems to consist of keeping football players eligible without regard to their lives after Michigan football.
Acho remains in a Michigan football player's academic life from the time he officially visits campus as a recruit until he leaves the school. She discusses possible academic tracks with him, keeps on top of course enrollment, monitors class attendance, verifies progress toward a degree and serves as a counselor about school and, sometimes, personal matters.
But the precise part Acho plays in an athlete's decision to enroll in general studies seems to be subject to interpretation.
Acho said if a visiting football recruit is interested in LS&A - the largest of Michigan's schools and colleges - then she'll ask someone from LS&A to come and talk about general studies. In interviews, players said Acho encouraged them to pursue the degree.
"I don't think encouraged is the right word," Acho countered. "I think every student decides on whatever degree program they want to go into. And just as I said before, we'll ask the questions - what might you be interested in?"
Branch told The News he wanted to be a history teacher. Former Michigan wide receiver Steve Breaston - Branch's teammate with the Arizona Cardinals - said he wanted to major in English. New England Patriots linebacker Pierre Woods, another player on Michigan's 2004 team, said he wanted to be a film and video major.
All three ended up in the general studies program.
Acho said she can't explain why so many athletes congregate in general studies, other than to say that "the flexibility in the program has allowed them to create programs of study that really interest them."
She's either lying or just plain stupid.
Can anyone explain why the NCAA is tax exempt?
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