To the Editor:
Jeff Shafer's column ("School does little for sports fans, DP, 3/23/06) criticized Penn for neglecting athletics -- specifically for not making a bigger deal out of the NCAA Tournament. I for one would be sad to see Penn place a higher priority on basketball.
I grew up in Charlottesville, Va., two blocks from the University of Virginia's Scott Stadium. During my time there, UVA spent $50 million on a stadium replay screen and built a large new basketball arena. Sports at UVA are given a high priority, which is nice for athletes and fans, but comes at the expense of academics.
Athletes face lower admissions requirements; funding that could build new classrooms goes to coaches' salaries. Athletics becomes its own separate business, one that does not share the scholarly aims and ideals one expects to find at institutions of higher education.
Some people like this. I do not. I chose Penn over the University of Nebraska because I wanted top-tier academics.
If I had wanted a school attached to what approaches a professional sports team, I would have gone elsewhere. I hope Penn keeps its focus on study rather than sport.
John BninskiWharton and College freshman
