Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Universities should give the same amount of money to their students’ sports activities as they give to their university libraries.

Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.

University libraries are an important part of a university’s infrastructure, but sports activities do not benefit students as much as libraries do. The author’s reasoning for the statement is that libraries are more important than sports programs, and that therefore sports programs should be cut from the budget.

Here is an argument from analogy. This form of argumentation cannot be completely supported by facts, although it does make a valid point. Universities, like governments, have to make choices. If a university spends its money on libraries, it does not mean that more money cannot be spent on sports. Just as not all university budgets can be cut, not all university sports programs can be eliminated. However, the decision to invest in athletics is not necessarily the best use of a university’s resources. Universities have to balance their academic programs with non-academic activities, and athletics often represents a large share of university spending.

The author makes several arguments to support his position. The first argument states that athletics offer unique opportunities for students to learn leadership qualities. There is no doubt that athletic programs build student leadership skills as they develop their players and work together as a team. But does athletics build leadership skills more than other activities? In my article, “Why the Collegiate Sports Culture is Unhealthy,” I argue that collegiate athletics creates an unhealthy focus on winning and losing, and that, as a result, student athletes are less prepared for success after college than they would have been if they participated in other sports. Students learn leadership skills by being involved in school activities, not by being athletes. Sports programs may also promote a culture of bullying, which poses a threat to students’ mental health.

Students also learn important values and character trait through their participation in athletics. Many university sports teams form life-long bonds of friendship between team members. Athletes learn the value of teamwork and sportsmanship, and they learn self-discipline and self-control through the demands of practice and competition. However, students do not learn these values in athletics alone. They learn them in the classroom, through clubs, and in their communities. The skills students learn through athletics can be as valuable and long lasting as those gained from college courses.

The author states that athletics provide opportunities to network that cannot be found elsewhere. It is true that many universities have alumni groups that host sporting events, but there is no guarantee that a student who participates in athletics will encounter such a person. Universities also organize social events for students. Almost every university has an annual alumni banquet, and many universities have homecoming celebrations. The events held by universities can provide students with networking opportunities as well. Universities can also provide opportunities for students to meet members of their community, and sports teams often host events for alumni. While these activities can provide students with useful connections, they are not exclusive to athletics.

Student athletes also learn valuable life skills through athletics. They develop their physical abilities, and they learn how to balance their schoolwork with their athletic commitments. However, students who do not participate in athletics do not learn these life lessons as well. They may not develop the same athletic skills, but they can develop important skills such as time management, responsibility and teamwork. Athletics should not be eliminated from a university’s program, but universities should not assume that athletics are as important as they are made out to be.

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