It recently came to my attention that Creighton University offers its student-athletes one hour of academic credit for each semester they spend participating in NCAA athletic activity. These credit hours are bestowed upon them by way of ATE 161: Squad Participation, a course that is described on the registrar’s Web site as making use of a “nontraditional instructional method.” Although the course was theoretically to begin Jan. 9, the registrar’s Web site currently lists the course’s time, location and instructor as TBA. Enrollment in the class is restricted to in-season NCAA athletes, so someone like myself would never have the opportunity to participate in the squad.

After a few clandestine operations, I obtained a copy of the course’s syllabus. It opens thusly: “Purpose of this Course: To provide the enrolled student-athlete with one (1) hour of University credit for satisfactory participation in all aspects of participation in intercollegiate athletics in their respective sport.”

Now, aside from being poorly drafted, this sentence outlines a most distressing sentiment: the objective of the course is simply to furnish academic credit. When was the last time the syllabus for a biology course read: “The purpose of this course is to provide the student with three (3) hours of biology credit”!? This is nearly tautological. The assignation of academic credit is a fortunate byproduct of intellectual mastery in a given course, not the purpose of the course itself.

Additionally, the restrictions on enrollment in the class are borderline discriminatory. Whereas many courses have prerequisites, these limitations are to ensure that a student is intellectually prepared to take the course. Given enough time and effort, I can meet the academic requirements of any course on this campus, except ATE 161. It would be like a fraternity establishing a course in the classics department where no course objectives were outlined and enrollment was restricted to Zetas, Kappas, Deltas, Lattes and Potatoes.

So why are athletes given academic credits for being athletically gifted? By contrast, I am not given playing time with the men’s basketball team for every “A” I earn in a course. I am reminded of the age-old adage: You cannot have your cake and eat it too. If playing NCAA ball is tough and time consuming, then by all means, this University’s athletic program should do everything it can to assist an athlete in his/her endeavor. But do not go so far as to cheapen my experience in the academic sector.

For the past seven semesters, I have been working toward gaining admittance to doctoral programs in political science. Much is demanded of applicants, and I have had to let go of many other activities in order to create time for my studies. Although I like any student would have loved to experience the thrill of shooting the game winning 3-pointer, I could not ask Creighton to implement a program that would allow me to do so based purely on my academic merits. One simply cannot hold class at center court.

Josh Potter, Arts & Sciences senior