“Athletes Involved in Shooting” (Feb. 18) was a weak attempt at sensationalism.
Unfortunately, all the story really accomplished was to further associate UW-Madison athletes with unscrupulous behavior.
While the story was vague and lacking in detail, the photo provided was very informative. True, I knew what scooters looked like, but not those particular scooters in front of that particular awning.
It’s kind of ironic, I suppose: People associate scooters with athletes, and athletes with a host of other things. The really, really great thing about these stereotypes is that they’re just that: stereotypes.
I happen to be a UW athlete as well as a loyal Herald reader, so instead of just haranguing you, I’ve taken the constructive route and come up with a list to dispel some of the stereotypes student athletes are subjected to.
1. I don’t have a scholarship. It’s not because I suck; there’s just no money for non-revenue sports. I did, however, get a total of $80 in stipends on the mandatory winter training trip that I had to pay $500 for. Since I got into college by my academic greatness alone and nobody will pay to watch a rowing regatta, I have to work at crappy student jobs along with everybody else.
2. I don’t own a scooter. Contrary to popular belief, Pat Richter doesn’t hand out keys to athletes at orientation. I did buy one for $50 during my junior year.
Although the fact that it didn’t have brakes or turn signals didn’t really bother me, and I did do a bang-up greased-lightning paint job on it, I had to get rid of it after two weeks when I wore through the soles of my shoes. I sold it for $75 (rock on, business school — I knew you were good for something).
3. I don’t eat at a training table. That’s only for the football team. The fact that I spend 25 hours per week training and burn roughly 4500 calories per day only means I eat roughly three times as much mac & cheese as the average student.
4. I don’t slide in classes. My accounting TA didn’t know I was a student athlete until the end of the semester and expressed surprise that the reason for my sleeping is class was vigorous exercise at 6 a.m. rather than drinking.
And although it’s true there is a dedicated study center for athletes (the Fetzer Student-Athlete Academic Center), the fact that certain programs make athletes in academic jeopardy sign in and do time there makes it even less conducive to studying than the second floor of Helen C. White. Plus, after four years I think they actually cracked down on the open porn viewing going on in there.
5. I’ve never been in a fight. This is a good thing, because I’d get tarred. Even though I’m probably bigger and stronger than most of my potential opponents, I’ve never been much of a fighter.
6. By UW standards, I don’t even drink very much. There’s only so much you can fit into one night a week. I had a conversation with a classmate about how after four years she can’t go out three nights per week any more. I never really could; there are only so many times you can show up drunk to workouts that make sober men dry heave and not learn your lesson.
7. I don’t live in a private residence hall. I pay rent like everybody else.
8. I never stole anything from The Shoe Box. Neither did anyone else, really; from what I hear, all you had to do was ask nicely. It took me about two seconds of sober thought to figure out taking a discount there was a serious NCAA violation.
Alan Geweke ([email protected]) is a member of the
UW men’s rowing team.
