this post was submitted on 17 Dec 2023
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[–] [email protected] 17 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Because they like having money? Running a university is legitimately very expensive and there's always more to do. I think it's more common with people who went to business school or became pro athletes, etc. They end up with very profitable careers and a fond recollection of their time in college. It's worth it to the university to ask almost everyone just in case, because sometimes they find that one whale alum.

[–] [email protected] 31 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Running a ~~university~~NCAA athletics program is legitimately very expensive

FTFY

[–] [email protected] 12 points 11 months ago (2 children)

Athletics is actually petty profitable, since athletes can't be paid, so the school gets all the money for sponsorships, tickets, merch, etc.

It can actually be a problem for the schools, since athletics isn't allowed to be profitable. They have to spend all the money athletics brings in on athletics, which is why the athletics department ends up with all the fancy new buildings.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 11 months ago (2 children)

since athletes can’t be paid,

Remind me again, what is it called when the people generating the wealth are not compensated?

It can actually be a problem for the schools, since athletics isn’t allowed to be profitable. They have to spend all the money athletics brings in on athletics, which is why the athletics department ends up with all the fancy new buildings.

Ah yes, that sounds like a great benefit for students getting an education. Also for the academic staff. Must be great to work at a university as a lecturer and know the football coach earns multiples of your salary.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Honestly I think South Park’s bit on Student Athletes perfectly explains it

[–] AeonFelis 1 points 11 months ago

Remind me again, what is it called when the people generating the wealth are not compensated?

Blind government regulations?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

What's the point of having an athletic program if you're not using it to subsidize programs that actually matter?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 11 months ago

It kinda does do that, just indirectly. Even if the university can't profit directly off of athletics, a successful sports season increases application rates and donations. Basically it boosts the brand recognition and brand identity of the school.

It's still painful to me that the class size at my engineering school basically doubled the year after the university won some basketball championship. I don't want to believe that people, and especially engineers, are that influence-able but the numbers don't lie