The DGWS Philosophy: Then and Now - Marc Horwitz

Although it has been nearly 40 years since the DGWS had taken a poll regarding athlete exploitation and financial aid, many of the fears and findings that have come as a conclusion of this poll can still be seen today. As a result of a 1973 poll, the DGWS met to revise their position on financial aid regulations and restructure their philosophy when it comes to athletic scholarships and other forms of financial aid.  When reading the Philosophical Statement, many of the ideas that are brought up within the seven guidelines seem as though they would certainly still fit in the college athletic world today.  The DGWS recommended guidelines, established in 1973, are as follows:

1. The enrichment of the life of the participant should be the focus and reason for athletic programs.
2. Adequate funding for a comprehensive athletic program should receive priority over the money assigned for financial aid. (Providing funding for a variety of competitive sports, appropriate food, lodging, and travel accommodations, trained coaches and officials, and safe equipment and facilities)
3. The potential contribution of the "educated" citizen to society, rather than the contribution of the student to the college offering the scholarship, should be the motive for financial aid.
4. Staff time and effort should be devoted to the comprehensive program rather than to recruiting.
5. Students should be free to choose the institution on the basis of curriculum and program rather than on the amount of financial aid offered.
6. When financial aid is to be given, participants in certain sports should not be favored over those in other sports.
7. Students should be encouraged to participate in the athletic program for reasons other than financial aid.

(Carpenter, 2005, p. 106-107)

What I find most interesting when reading through these guidelines is how pieces of each one could be applied to university athletic departments today. Many would argue that the guidelines established by the DGWS are ideas that should still be prominent at today's schools, as they promote academics and fair treatment of athletes in regards to financial aid over athletics.

Take the first guideline for example. The idea here is that athletics should be in place to promote a healthier and all-around lifestyle for the student-athlete as opposed to being solely established for revenue at the institution. While we may like to think that athletics still provide students with the opportunity to better their lifestyles through competition and physical activity while promoting life skills through working with a team, intercollegiate athletics has become a business, focused budgets and revenue to better the schools.

The second point is one that should still be followed by all athletic departments today, and much of what is covered here is still looked at to decide whether a department is in compliance with NCAA regulations. This guideline pertains to the fact that money should be spent on bettering the athletic department by offering adequate equipment, training, coaching and other accommodations instead of focusing more on scholarships. While scholarships are certainly important, especially with all the recruiting involved in today's athletics, it is crucial for athletic departments not to overlook the safety and wellness of athletes in efforts to better their departments.

Next, the DGWS felt as though college athletic programs should be more centered around reaching out to individuals with the best opportunity to provide to society, instead of putting athletics first and offering scholarship money because the athlete can bring in more revenue for the institution. This is something that the current NCAA institutions could definitely do a better job of, seeing as in sports such as basketball there are programs that recruit and offer scholarships to athletes who have no intention of ever staying at school for the duration of their program and earning a degree, it is simply a step stool to earning a place in the NBA.

The fifth guideline is one that reflects a big problem in intercollegiate athletics today. When making a decision as to which school to attend, financial offerings have become a crucial factor in deciding where to go. Rather than focusing on the programs offered, or it being the right fit for the student, many choose a school to attend based on the award package offered. If this was a problem seen by the DGWS in 1973, I can't imagine what the founders of these guidelines would say today if they were to compare the awards and scholarships offered to today's student athletes now.

Guideline number six is a growing concern at larger Division I institutions. While many of the schools in large conferences offer anywhere from 15-20+ sports, most of the focus is primarily on just a few of the sports. Just look at the athletic department here at Bowling Green. While we have 18 Division I sports here, how often do you hear of a women's swimming competition or a golf match? Just because the programs are offered, doesn't mean they reap the benefits of programs such as football, ice hockey, or basketball. Much like in 1973 when these guidelines were established, it should still be a focus of athletic departments today to ensure that there is not too much focus on one program and that each has the opportunity to receive aid and scholarships to better position themselves for recruitment and have the best chance at success.

The final guideline ties in with the fifth, looking at financial aid and scholarships being the sole reason for attending an institution or playing a sport. This guideline pertains to the idea that student-athletes should be participating in sport because they still find enjoyment in it, not because they are offered financial aid. Instead of using potential scholarship money as a recruiting tool, things such as longstanding program history, state of the art facilities and strong coaching should be what is highlighted to a prospective student-athlete.

In conclusion, I'd say that it is quite clear that today's intercollegiate athletic programs could take a lot from the DGWS Philosophy guidelines, regardless of the fact that they were established nearly 40 years ago. The principles highlighted in these guidelines focus on bettering the experience for the athlete, rather than ensuring that the athletic department. I find it interesting how much these guidelines could still pertain to today's athletic departments, and I think that schools should still strive to look at some of these guidelines to provide the best possible environment for the student-athlete and keep the focus on enjoying the sport rather than bringing the athletes to the forefront of the business side of college sport.