The true challenge of Student Athletes

The true challenge of Student AthletesJosh Mathew and Jake Waldner

The IssuesEverybody thinks they know how student athletes work.Assumes they are the dumb jockThis is no exception at Georgia Tech.

Media perceptions of Student Athletes

Why it may exist

Media Influence

The media are forms of pedagogy which teach us how to react to members of different social groups - Cultural studies, Multiculturalism, and Media Culture by Douglas Kellner

Non Student Athlete Perceptions

Tend to major in something less involvedMajority are business majorsDo not actively participate in classTeachers give them an easy time

Do [student athletes] seem to participate a little less in class than non athletes, yes.There tends to be a negative connotation with business majors in general as athletes

Athletes Reality

They were accepted due to their athletic ability and more importantly their intelligenceIn order to get here, you had to have above a 3.5 [GPA] in High School

A Swimmers Response to the Stereotype

Its hard to get in here. Its hard regardless of whether you play football or not.

Its frustrating to assume that all athletes are business majors.

Athlete's Majors

Some of nuclear engineers, mechanical engineers and industrial design majorsThose who did choose business as their major did not do so for the easy rideAn athlete responded that he chose business out of true desire for the major

Athletes ResponsibilitiesClasses taken are just as rigorous as non-student athletesI take 15 hours of class and I have 6 hours of practice everyday. because I love the gameBalance between academic and athletic goals

I take 15 hours of class and I have 6 hours of practice everyday. because I love the game

Effects of DiscriminationStudent athletes get no acknowledgement for their hard work ethic.I have had teachers hate football players

I have even had teachers that hate football players[Teachers] didnt make it easy on me by any means, or on my teammates by any means

Responses to Effects

I honestly expected people to like the football playersWeve got people like that who can go above and beyond

Athletes SolutionRaise awarenessProduce more school comradery through a pep rally to allow students to connect with the athletes more.Appreciate not only their successes on the field but also in the classroomOpposition arose towards their solution in that it would look like it was coming off as desperate

I would see that as them coming off as desperate

What we can do?Arrange a meet and greetProduce more school comradery through a pep rally to allow students to connect with the athletes more.I dont care what you get excited about it could be a math debate! Acknowledge the physical and mental demands that surround student athletes.