Athletics Director Scalise Says Student-Athletes Should Not Be Paid

Harvard Athletics Director Robert L. Scalise said he does not think student-athletes should be paid while at Harvard in an interview last month, joining in a national conversation about student-athlete compensation.

“At Harvard, I do not think athletes should be paid. In a sense, they will be paid down the road, learning some great lessons that they use to pursue their lives in a meaningful way,” he said.

Proponents of paying student-athletes argue that schools profit from major athletic programs, while their student-athletes do not reap the financial benefits.

Scalise said, however, that student-athletes at Harvard should not incur costs while playing their sports. He said it is appropriate for colleges to cover such costs as computers, winter coats, and travel to and from home during vacation periods. He added that student-athletes should not receive cash.

Scalise also focused on the role of academics in student athletes’ lives at Harvard.

“I believe people should come here to get an education, not just to play their sport,” he said. “You're coming here to get an education. Athletics is part of it, but not the sole reason for you to be here.”

Scalise also said that student-athletes should not receive “preferential treatment” in terms of the classes they take and that student athletes’ lives should resemble those of other students as much as possible.

“Because we want them to walk across the stage and have their Faculty Dean give them a diploma that says, ‘You met the same standard as every other student who's receiving a diploma today. You didn't meet the standard by taking more time than anyone else to get through the degree, having your hand held through this whole process,’” Scalise said.

This also includes having student-athletes live in the same dorms and “eat in the same dining rooms, with the same food” as students not involved in varsity athletics, according to Scalise.

Scalise also indicated that this should apply to college admissions. He said he believes prospective student-athletes should go through the same processes as other applicants to the College.

“At Harvard, and within the Ivy League, students should be admitted by the same processes,” he said. “And we should make sure that we're admitting students who are representative of the student body.”

—Olivia C. Scott contributed reporting.

—Staff writer Devin B. Srivastava can be reached at devin.srivastava@thecrimson.com. Follow him on Twitter @devinsrivastava.