Collegiate Athletes and Paychecks do Not Go Hand in Hand

Should college athletes get paid? Being a college athlete, this question seems absurd. College athletes are getting paid. When costs are compiled together by the end of a four-year student-athlete’s college career, they are essentially getting paid close to a quarter of a million dollars by graduation—their education is paid for, along with all of the other costs that go along with being an athlete. While the typical college student will be paying off debt and loans for many years, athletes get to start out their lives debt free because they dedicated four years of their life to a sport that they chose to be the way of paying for their education.

The point of universities is to provide an education for the students of the particular university. Therefore, by shutting down a university early, as the article mentioned that universities do in order to “…accommodate crowds,” this is completely going against what the point of a university’s mission, that being furthering one’s education. This is not to say that college sports are disruptive to the college atmosphere; college sports bring a sense of community and togetherness to a campus. However, it seems wrong to end a school day early in order to adjust to the needs of a two hour sporting event, when at the end of the day, what truly matters is the education of the student.

Where the NCAA and universities may be getting paid obscene amounts of money on behalf of student-athletes’ efforts, it is the athlete’s “job” to be playing that sport for the university while their “earnings” are getting their education paid for. Getting a salary on top of a free ride at a four-year university is not beneficial to the university or the athlete in the long run. If the athlete is too focused on their paycheck from their success on the court, field, etc., they will be less likely to focus in the classroom. Universities and the NCAA should not be concerned with paying athletes in a college environment because they are being paid. 

Online Gaming to the World

Gamemakers are arguing that the world of online gaming is bringing an entire new light and hope to the collaborative and creative world. It is suggested in the video that gaming can help to solve problems like hunger and poverty. The “real world,” especially in society’s current state, can tend to bring an unconfident mindset to the people living in today’s struggling culture. The virtual world, on the other hand, brings confidence, optimism, and possibilities that are not daunting and out of grasping range.

            Gamemakers believe that the world of gaming can bring these possibilities through collaboration. They believe that with the millions of people subscribed to online gaming, there is constant feedback that is not only fast and efficient, but it comprises a sense of social fabric. Whenever humans are interacting in these games, there is an immediate bond that is built between the player and the opponent or teammate. Gamemakers are also creating games and consoles that are eco friendly, so they are not only bringing new ideas to the world, but they are creating an environmentally safer gaming world to the industry.

            Is it possible for gaming to solve some of the world’s and/or nation’s most pressing issues? Gamemakers argue that this idea could indeed be true. In the video, it mentions that by including an incentive for people who are able to come up with a solution to real world matters, or rather, “beat the game,” will be more likely to push themselves to extremes in order to find a solution. Because online gaming has become such a popular and widespread area in our culture, I believe that it is smart of gamemakers to attempt to twist the typical game to something that can be applicable to help society.  With collaboration, optimism, and hope, online gaming may very well be the solution to some of the world’s problems.

Chapter One Rhetorical Summary

In their book, Good Reasons, Faigley and Selzer stress the importance of written arguments in chapter one, “Making an Effective Argument.” According to the authors, written arguments attempt to alter the way one thinks or views about a specific topic by backing up their claims with evidence and reasoning. The authors continually mention throughout chapter one that reasons and evidence are crucial components to include when giving a claim; in order to explain the significance of this issue, the authors state: “Setting out a specific proposal or claim supported by reasons and evidence is at the heart of most college writing, no matter what course”(5). The authors seem to have a somewhat straightforward writing style, which is tasteful to the collegiate audience who are looking for answers the most efficient way possible. 

Repeat-offenders and Sex Offenders

Parental Quandary: The Sex Offender Next Door

It is no secret that repeat-offenders that are granted probation are continually committing crimes that are as or more severe that their first offense. If a mother is concerned for her children's safety if she is living next-door to a sex offender--she has every right to feel apprehensive and uneasy. The problem with the increasing trend rates from repeat-offenders is the fact that these numbers could be lower if there was not parole system fall out. The federal government should require parole officers’ duties and responsibilities to be more extensive in order to protect the general public against offenses committed by released convicts in the United States.