(01-23-2018 06:32 PM)Lord Stanley Wrote:  

(01-23-2018 04:50 PM)McKinney Wrote:  

(01-23-2018 10:03 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  Bottom line is that to me, athletics is extraneous to the mission, so it should be paid by user fees, not the general student population. I love football, but it's wrong for an Art major with zero interest in it to have to kick in too.

Have you seen some of the useless majors/courses that universities offer? I'd make the snarky argument that they're extraneous to the mission as well.

Here is NIU's mission: In pursuing our vision and fulfilling our mission, the University values:

A community of diverse people, ideas, services, and scholarly endeavors in a climate of respect for the intrinsic dignity of each individual
Access for a broad spectrum of students to high quality undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs that prepare them to be lifelong learners and productive, socially conscious citizens
Engaged teaching and learning that evolves from the synergy of research, artistry, and service
Research and artistry in creating, transmitting, expanding, and applying knowledge
Student success supported through academic and co-curricular programming and activities
The application of current technology in enhancing and broadening all institutional endeavors
A system of shared governance that incorporates input from faculty, staff, and students in decision- and policy-making
Commitment to a public purpose addressing regional, state, national, and global challenges and opportunities

At least three of them can easily be assumed to have Athletics as a core mission of the University:

1. A community of diverse people, ideas, services, and scholarly endeavors in a climate of respect for the intrinsic dignity of each individual

2. Access for a broad spectrum of students to high quality undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs that prepare them to be lifelong learners and productive, socially conscious citizens

3. Student success supported through academic and co-curricular programming and activities

Absolutely zero of those makes any reference, direct or indirect, to athletics at all.

Especially not intercollegiate athletics with scholarships. At best, it's an argument for physical education courses and intramural sports that all or virtually all students can participate in (and that's valid, of course).