Is college sports an extracurricular activity or a job? The argument for paying college athletes has grown in recent years. Some say athletes have full-time jobs and deserve to be paid because they are overburdened with many school-related activities. College athletes should not be paid because it is a privilege to play a sport for a college. Athletes receive a full scholarship for their participation in a varsity sport. In his article on the pros and cons of paying college athletes, Dennis Johnson, a writer for The SportJournal, explains that full scholarships can be expensive since most of them fall between $30,000 and $200,000. Dennis Johnson mentions, “Student-athletes cost the university a substantial amount of money each year” (Johnson and Acquaviva np). Some athletes do not appreciate the gift of a scholarship given to them and want a salary instead. William Casement of Naples, a former philosophy professor, says, "Athletes are fortunate to have earned their degree or made substantial progress toward it while competing in athletics" (Casement and Haug np). Craig Greenlee, an independent sports journalist, states, “The scholarship does not include spending money to help cover incidental expenses such as laundry or bath items” (Greenlee 62). Why should student-athletes receive spending money when college scholarship students don't even expect to receive spending money? Athletes complain about not getting paid for the sport they participate in, but they don't realize that education is another form of payment. It would be too expensive to pay all college athletes. Dennis Johnson, a freelance writer, says most Division II sports drain athletic budgets and make no profit. ...... Middle of paper ...... Will college athletes be paid to play? Michigan State law professors Robert and Amy McCormick say Division I college athletes qualify as “employees” under federal labor laws. " Miscellaneous Issues in Higher Education June 23, 2011: 12. Questia School. Web. December 3, 2013. Greenlee, Craig T. “College Athletes Deserve Some Fairness." Black Issues in Higher Education April 27, 2000: 62. Questia School Web December 3, 2013. Johnson, Dennis A. and John Acquaviva. The Sport Journal 15.1 (2012). allow. » Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, IL) December 4, 1999: 4. Questia School Web. December 3, 2013. Casment, William and Jay Haug. “Should College Athletes Pay Division 1 Athletes.” ?” The Florida Times Union, July 2, 2013. Questia School. Web. December 3.. 2013.