College Sports: Paying Division 1 Athletes A huge debate has been growing lately over why Division 1 athletes should be paid in addition to getting a scholarship. The proposal states that athletes should be eligible to receive money based on a percentage of the profits made by their school. Although some argue that major league athletes have already taken care of all of their needs, it is essential to help athletes with additional expenses in college. Since full-ride scholarships cover most of athletes' costs, many say their education is already paid for and additional money is not necessary. On the other hand, athletes spend so much time and effort on their specific sport that they don't have time to earn extra money, which establishes their school's need for money. Regardless, the decision to pass a law of this magnitude is still up in the air. Sports scholarships are a great way to get a free education and many people think that school is the only thing they should pay for. There are many reasons why people say this. One consequence of passing a law regarding student-athletes receiving money could potentially corrupt the NCAA system. Because the argument is based on the importance of the sport to the school, gambling and point shaving may occur more frequently in intercollegiate athletics. Point shaving is a method people use to pay players if they intentionally miss shots in order to lose. This is already a huge problem, but it suggests that athletes might have easier access to money and that it would affect their play. Another reason why athletes should not be paid is because they are not yet professionals. If they want to get paid, students must sign up for a project themselves and make it their job. ...... middle of paper ...... I follow the school they go to and the sport they play. Based on my experiences as a student-athlete, I can vouch for those who are in favor of paying student-athletes. Because I need more money to help me continue my college education, I had to apply for financial aid and eventually received a grant. I faced many additional expenses during my first semester as a student-athlete. An estimate of how much money I spend each semester is around $100. These expenses range from shampoo to restaurant meals when the cafeteria is closed. The time I spend as an athlete each week takes at least 20 hours. The combination of time spent playing basketball and personal needs demonstrates why student-athletes should receive money. It amazes me how many things require money out of my own pocket. Ultimately, student-athletes need to start getting paid, even if it's minimal..