For half of my years working at the UO, I benefited from and enjoyed being in intercollegiate athletics. But things have changed, evidenced by the University Senate decision to vote down necessary proposals that would have disallowed the playing of football games on weekdays, during dead week and during finals week.
Professor Nathan Tublitz had the courage and wisdom to propose that such play dates not be allowed unless approved by three University groups. He did not go far enough in the effort to prevent varsity athletic money-making from subverting academic priorities. Such approval should not be allowed under any conditions, no matter how many bucks are to be made, usually from TV networks that demand schedule changes.
I’m afraid only one answer remains: to drop varsity football.
‘Big joke,’ laugh some. No joke. Football should go before students and faculty are governed by the hypocrisy of athletics.
George Beres
Eugene resident