Jackson says NCAA exploits blacks
Originally published in the Chicago Sun Times on March 26, 2005 [here]
BY MONIFA THOMAS Staff Reporter
The teams competing in this year's March Madness may represent the best of college basketball, but the Rev. Jesse Jackson said Friday many NCAA schools are dropping the ball when it comes to helping student athletes, particularly African-American men, graduate.
Jackson cited a recent study from the Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport at the University of Central Florida, which compared graduation rates for all student athletes with those of the men and women on Division I teams in this year's NCAA basketball tournament.
According to the study, 42 of the 65 men's teams picked for the tournament would not have been eligible if a 50 percent minimum graduation rate were required for selection.The study also found that 51 percent of white male basketball players graduated, compared with 38 percent of black male athletes. In addition, 45 of the 328 Division I teams did not graduate a single African-American basketball player in six years -- the duration of the study -- even though 58 percent of male Division I athletes are black, the study said.
'May Sadness'
The achievement gap between white and black female athletes was smaller, and women's teams had much higher graduation rates than the men's teams overall.
NCAA statistics for four sets of freshman classes between 1994 and 1998 were used in the study, lead researcher Richard Lapchick said.
"These numbers are criminal in their implications," Jackson said, calling the athletes' low graduation rate the "May Sadness" after March Madness. "These schools are making huge amounts of money and getting lots of publicity. They must not be in a position to exploit these youth without repercussions."
Penalties planned
Jackson attributed African-American athletes' lower graduation rate to inadequate college preparation in many inner-city high schools. He also blamed coaches and schools for their single-minded emphasis on athletics over academics.
Ron Stratten, vice president of educational services for the NCAA, said the sports association plans to hold its member schools more accountable for student athletes by imposing penalties such as taking away scholarship money and denying entry in the tournament to schools that fall short of a reasonable graduation rate, such as 50 percent.
Stratten said the NCAA might start using such penalties in 2007.
WHERE THE GRADUATES ARE
Tournament schools with highest graduation rate for male athletes
1. Bucknell University: 100 percent
1. (tied) Utah State University: 100 percent
3. Stanford University: 92 percent
4. Mississippi State University: 75 percent
5. University of Wisconsin, Madison: 73 percent
Tournament schools with highest graduation rate for African-American men
1. Bucknell University: 100 percent
1. Oakland University: 100 percent
3. Stanford University: 86 percent
4. University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill: 83 percent
5. St. Mary's College of California: 80 percent
5. (tied) Winthrop University: 80 percent
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign men's basketball team
Graduation rate for African-American players: 42 percent
Graduation rate for white players: 50 percent
Overall male athlete graduation rate: 70 percent
SOURCE: Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sports
BY MONIFA THOMAS Staff Reporter
The teams competing in this year's March Madness may represent the best of college basketball, but the Rev. Jesse Jackson said Friday many NCAA schools are dropping the ball when it comes to helping student athletes, particularly African-American men, graduate.
Jackson cited a recent study from the Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport at the University of Central Florida, which compared graduation rates for all student athletes with those of the men and women on Division I teams in this year's NCAA basketball tournament.
According to the study, 42 of the 65 men's teams picked for the tournament would not have been eligible if a 50 percent minimum graduation rate were required for selection.The study also found that 51 percent of white male basketball players graduated, compared with 38 percent of black male athletes. In addition, 45 of the 328 Division I teams did not graduate a single African-American basketball player in six years -- the duration of the study -- even though 58 percent of male Division I athletes are black, the study said.
'May Sadness'
The achievement gap between white and black female athletes was smaller, and women's teams had much higher graduation rates than the men's teams overall.
NCAA statistics for four sets of freshman classes between 1994 and 1998 were used in the study, lead researcher Richard Lapchick said.
"These numbers are criminal in their implications," Jackson said, calling the athletes' low graduation rate the "May Sadness" after March Madness. "These schools are making huge amounts of money and getting lots of publicity. They must not be in a position to exploit these youth without repercussions."
Penalties planned
Jackson attributed African-American athletes' lower graduation rate to inadequate college preparation in many inner-city high schools. He also blamed coaches and schools for their single-minded emphasis on athletics over academics.
Ron Stratten, vice president of educational services for the NCAA, said the sports association plans to hold its member schools more accountable for student athletes by imposing penalties such as taking away scholarship money and denying entry in the tournament to schools that fall short of a reasonable graduation rate, such as 50 percent.
Stratten said the NCAA might start using such penalties in 2007.
WHERE THE GRADUATES ARE
Tournament schools with highest graduation rate for male athletes
1. Bucknell University: 100 percent
1. (tied) Utah State University: 100 percent
3. Stanford University: 92 percent
4. Mississippi State University: 75 percent
5. University of Wisconsin, Madison: 73 percent
Tournament schools with highest graduation rate for African-American men
1. Bucknell University: 100 percent
1. Oakland University: 100 percent
3. Stanford University: 86 percent
4. University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill: 83 percent
5. St. Mary's College of California: 80 percent
5. (tied) Winthrop University: 80 percent
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign men's basketball team
Graduation rate for African-American players: 42 percent
Graduation rate for white players: 50 percent
Overall male athlete graduation rate: 70 percent
SOURCE: Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sports