THE UNIVERSITY of Virginia Alumni Association hosted another tremendous gathering of black alumni and guests from March 31 to April 2. This year's biennial Black Alumni Weekend event was coined "Celebrating The Legacy" as over 1400 persons registered to enjoy fellowship, reminiscence and commemoration of the numerous achievements and honors of black students at the University.\nAs a BAW committee member, I served with other committed alumni to promote and provide guidance on the event's format and programs. An additional highlight was developing and serving as a facilitator for a workshop titled "The Sporting Life: Reflections on Overcoming the Challenges Facing the Black Athlete."
Although the session was well attended, I am disappointed that our current student-athletes and many black coaches were not present. As a professor and researcher in the discipline of sport business administration at the University of North Carolina and a former basketball player at Virginia, I conclude that many of our student-athletes across the country have become "super-sized" with more practice time, film study, strength and conditioning sessions and mandatory study halls - focused on eligibility and not graduation - coming at the expense of learning.
In an effort to produce better athletes, coaches now are enlarging every aspect of their players' athletic lives. Yes, even at the good 'ol University many of our student-athletes are missing the opportunity to enjoy the richness of Jefferson's Academical Village.
Trusting our Alumni Association's outreach to the campus community and my communications with select coaches regarding BAW, I expected to see at least a handful of eager students in the audience seeking advice about how former 'Hoos successfully navigated the delicate balance of books and ball on Grounds. The panel of Demetrius "Pete" Allen (Football - CLAS '96), Charleata Beal Neal (Basketball - CLAS '95) and Dr. Bobby Stokes (Basketball - Curry '79) shared insightful and moving stories of their experiences as leaders in their respective sports.
Allen is currently a Dean at the prestigious Academy of Life and Learning in Williamsburg, Neal is an assistant director of Human Resources at Goucher College and Stokes is a family physician in Charlottesville. Surely these former students and successful professionals would have a word of encouragement that would inspire or help current student-athletes with their academic progress and career choices.
Timing is everything, you say? I was told the spring football game and its necessary buildup of meetings, practices, film work ad nauseam was very demanding and the football players were too busy. 'Hoo are you fooling? I find it appropriate to quote Allen Iverson on this matter: "We're talking about practice, man. I mean, how silly is that?"
And certainly, basketball is in the offseason, right? The session was held on a Friday at 1 p.m. for one hour. Thankfully, Wendy Palmer from the basketball program did attend, and we all appreciated her insight and perspective as a coach and former star in the ACC and WNBA.
This powerful meeting of minds was experiential education at its finest. Its outcome, however, can be equated to a prominent guest lecturer speaking in Cabell Hall and students choosing to go to their scheduled classes instead of listening to the special speech. The current black student-athletes missed a superb opportunity to learn. The compelling comments and guidance offered by these leaders trumped textbooks and journal articles. This is not to mention the opportunity to establish a relationship with a mentor for life after sports.
The panel spoke with enthusiasm and passion about how best to navigate the demands of Virginia academics. Its members spoke of the highs and lows of being a black athlete competing in the ACC and playing at the next level. This meaningful reminder of what is really important for the black collegiate student-athlete only underscored the need for more sessions of this nature.
As the debate about the commercialization of college sports rages across the country, I now offer my supposition that the more we "do" for today's student-athletes, the less we gain in return. The prevailing mindset instilled within this generation often keeps its members away from the true purpose of college. They have less time to bond with non-athletes, build valuable relationships with professors and administrators, join social and service organizations, study abroad and gain independence and cultural competence. Remember, most will graduate and "go pro in something other than their sport."
The current formula of "more control of their schedules in the hope of more 'W's'" is just not working. Are today's teams winning more than in the past? I need and want to analyze the empirical data that supports more control and monitoring of today's student-athletes that results in more success on and off the field.
Studies already have concluded that long work hours and limited sleep are detrimental to working professionals. The pressure of the six-figure incomes and "keeping up with the Joneses" mentality, however, is sufficient justification for the coaches who live at the office 24/7 and, consequently, place incredible demands on their student-athletes. You do want to be in the pros, don't you?
Regretfully, I think we may be producing fewer self-sufficient adults as a result. One solution, though, could be a window of five years for completion of one's degree.
As recently reported in the Chronicle of Higher Education, scholars are questioning seriously if today's college students really are learning critical thinking, written communication and complex reasoning skills. Mercy. If the traditional student possibly is missing the mission of the undergraduate experience, can you imagine what is happening to our student-athletes? What about the at-risk student-athletes who are not even prepared to compete in the college classroom, yet can throw and catch a ball with exceptional skill? Who is developing consistently those students' holistic growth outside of athletics?
And of course, the jury is still out on the effects of technology on students' social skills and their ability to work effectively in groups. Without detailing the vast amount of troubling research on the black student-athlete experience - including graduation rates - at predominately white institutions, one can imagine the challenges faced by these young people without direction and mentoring from those outside of the athletic complex.
One session evaluation stated, "The current athletes really need to hear these panelists! Maybe the panel can reconvene on an 'off' weekend when athletes are not committed to a game." How sad. The "super-sizing" or control of the student-athlete schedule now requires alumni and concerned interests to place sports on an even higher pedestal and work around the coaches' agenda on an academic day. Trust me, if the coaches told their athletes to be at this "Sporting Life" session, they would have been in attendance and seated in the front row.
Nevertheless, this disappointing occurrence will not change my belief in the wonders of the college sports tradition. As a product of Virginia athletics and academics, I will continue to promote participation and support for this unique educational experience. I cannot stand on the sidelines, however, while injustices and missteps occur in this new peculiar institution. This educational experience is one arena where the student-athlete cannot afford to lose.
Deborah Stroman is a lecturer professor and academic advisor at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. She is a 1982 graduate of the Curry School.
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