Athletes organize coalition to voice NCAA concerns

By Elizabeth Kassab

Daily Staff Reporter

During his years as a linebacker for the University of California at Los Angeles, Ramogi Huma said he found "serious problems with the NCAA policies," regarding athletes.

Now a graduate student at UCLA, Huma led the majority of the Bruins' current football players in joining with United Steelworkers of America to announce the creation of the Collegiate Athletes Coalition last Thursday.

The CAC, which Huma co-chairs, is an "organizing effort" dedicated to addressing the concerns of college athletes, said Tim Waters, Steelworker's national coordinator for rapid response.

The CAC is requesting that the National Collegiate Athletic Association implement changes to some of its policies to ease the financial and academic pressures on student athletes.

The CAC's goals include a moderate increase in monthly stipends, permission for athletes to earn more than $2,000 in the off-season in an unlimited variety of jobs, expanded health care to cover off-season and voluntary practices, an increase in the NCAA's set $10,000 insurance policy, and guidance and academic assistance for athletes off the playing field.

"These students are being exploited. It's not right, and everybody knows it," Waters said.

The NCAA's 2000-2001 budget exceeds $300 million, Waters said. Waters is surprised that this issue has been neglected until now. "There is no way that these guys should be raising the fact that they are not covered" for non-mandatory practices, Waters said.

"One of the primary missions of the NCAA is to maintain student welfare," said Jane Jankowski, assistant director of media relations with the NCAA. Athletes' safety is "constantly at the forefront."

The reforms CAC is seeking would "help athletes focus on what they're there for, which is athletics and academics," Huma said.

Huma said the graduation rate for athletes hovers somewhere around 50 percent. "We feel strongly that that needs to increase," Huma said. This aspect involves more consideration for student-athletes when they schedule classes or guidance in possible post-graduation careers.

The CAC also raised concern about the difficulty of scheduling a life around numerous sports practices, Huma said.

While the CAC does not have a presence on the University of Michigan's campus, Warde Manuel, associate athletic director at the University, said the administration is "acutely aware of the time constraints" student-athletes face.

"We are committed to the voice of our student-athletes," Maunel said.

He noted that UCLA is a different institution in a different conference. Issues that may be of pressing concern there might not have the same priority here, Manuel said.

That is not to say they aren't important issues, said Jamie Morris, assistant marketing director at the University.

Manuel added that there is a student-athletic advisory board where concerns can be addressed.

"The NCAA for at least 10 years has had a student-athlete advisory in place," Jankowski said. Student-athletes discuss issues and suggest changes to NCAA policies.

One recent NCAA amendment made it possible for student-athletes to earn up to $2,000 in the off-season, which CAC contends is too low.

"I am not aware that the NCAA has been contacted at all" by CAC, Jankowski said.

Betsy Stephenson, UCLA's associate athletic director, said the athletic department has not had a chance to talk with Huma.

Any changes will happen through the NCAA, Stephenson said. Individual schools cannot implement their own measures because NCAA guidelines would consider them "extra benefits," she added.

But amending or changing NCAA policies is "a daunting process," Manuel said.

Despite the Steelworkers' presence, "This is definitely not a union," Huma said. "We are just like any other student group on campus fighting for a cause."

Steelworkers' role is to provide guidance for CAC and help the organization reach beyond the UCLA campus.

CAC is focused on NCAA Division I football, but Waters said it "fully expects to branch out into other sports."

"Many of these goals will expand and evolve as we get more schools involved," Huma said.

Waters said CAC is talking with three Big Ten schools but would not specify which three.