A recent conference concluded that college athletes struggle with the stresses of performing on the field as well as in the classroom, but many AU students do not feel the same way.
The Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics was founded in October 1989 in response to more then a decade of highly visible scandals in college sports, according to its Web site. It sponsored the conference at George Washington University.
"Americans are deeply concerned about the commercialization of college sports," according to the commission's press release. A survey conducted by the Knight Commission found that three in four Americans believe there is a conflict between the commercialization of college sports and academic values.
At the conference, many student athletes said they do not have enough time to study, but they do not feel their athletic side hurts them academically.
"I like it when I have a sport and school at the same time," said Tremaine Chinapoo, a freshman member of the soccer team. "I have to focus more and I think I get more done. If I only have school, I tend to focus less and get less done."
Mariel Conway, a freshman member of the swim team, agreed.
"I learned how to time manage, not wasting time checking Facebook or whatever," she said.
Professor Chris Simpson of the School of Communication said athletics could in fact help some students manage time better.
"The discipline in sports actually helps the student," he said.
Other athletes said it is the type of person one is that makes the difference. Jordan Zipkin, a sophomore on the wrestling team, said mixing sports and academics is "easy" because he goes to all his classes and does his work.
"The people that would argue otherwise are those who spend their free time drinking and whatnot," he said.
Simpson said it is how the student wants to perform that determines how they will do.
"Some athletes are among the most talented students here at American University and at top of their classes," Simpson said.
However, he said he sees both sides of the spectrum.
"Other student athletes ... use sports as a substitute for academic responsibility," he said.
Some athletes at AU did agree with the commission's findings that athletics can be overwhelming at times.
"I think there are times when it gets overwhelming, like when I have to stay up late doing work and then wake up at 5:30 to jump in a pool," said Claire Plante, a freshman swimmer. "My performance in class isn't what it could be, but I don't know if it's ever been constantly a negative effect."
Two people at the Academic Support Center work directly with athletes. Coordinator Meredith Basil said athletes are always looked at by the administration of the university as "students first, athletes second."
Conway said head swim coach Mark Davin is "way flexible, as long as you make it up." However, Simpson said that he remembers one day sitting in McDonald's and hearing an assistant coach tell his athletes, "Don't worry, all you have to do is show up [to class] and they can't flunk you." Simpson and Basil both said this is untrue.
"Athletes should not get the idea that all they need to do is show up and that's the end of it, because that's not true," Simpson said.
According to Basil, students are aware of their academic responsibility when they enter the university. If an athlete does not meet academic standards, he or she is removed from the team.
"The stereotype about most athletes not being good students is a false stereotype," Simpson said.
