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Labor board: Northwestern University football players can unionize

It really doesnt. Most athletic programs are money losers.


And we could have students make bricks for free and sell them at a profit in Universities too - that would be profitable and bring down tuition. Doesnt mean we should.

Universities should be for education. Not paid sporting events.

That's nice, in a kumbaya kind of way.

The fact of the matter is, serious student-athletes (which most college athletes are) tend to be vastly more successful in life and business, and make a significantly more positive impact on society in general.

What you learn in the classroom pales greatly from what you learn through athletics about persistence, teamwork, and what it takes to win and lose in life.

There's great truth to the adage, "The C students end up working for the B students, and the A students teach." And the A student who's also play athletics....they rule the world.
 
I'm jumping in here out of context, but just want to point out that a $27,000 yearly scholarship indeed would be taxable if the student is considered an employee. Right now, an employee may deduct up to $5,250 in tuition reimbursement from his income. If the law doesn't chnge, $23,000+ of that $27,000 would be taxable.

This is messy for the athlete because how many of these kids' families can pay that?

It's like when imbecile Oprah gave everyone a car, and she was shocked that many of them couldn't take it because they couldn't afford the taxes. LOL, she honestly didn't know that.
 
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You mean because poor kids arent smart? Or is it because we give the poor kids with athletic ability the shot at college at the expense of the poor kids with academic ability? I have a feeling you just want the poor kids who get to go to college give you some entertainment instead of studying all the time.

All I can tell you is the median value of a scholarship is 27k per year. In state tuition and room and board is often about this amount.

Like I said, I already provided you an example that a scholarship is NOT taxable. You're clinging to that fantasy. Stop.

where did i say that poor kids aren't smart quote me or stop strawmaning.

if the poor kids has academic ability then he can get educational scholarships.

exactly what you think is a strawman but that is all you have against the facts that you can't address.

that is in-state tuition most kids that play sports come from other states. which means they get charged the out of state rate..

I posted the IRS guidelines that says you are wrong you keep ignoring it. so the only one clinging to fantasy here is you.
if these students are going to be considered employee's then their scholarships under IRS guidelines are only non-taxable if they relate to their degree.

i even copied and posted you the IRS CODE itself you ignored it. why is that?

also tell me what does a RB or QB position relate to a business major or computer science major or accounting major or any other major except physical education?
 
I'm jumping in here out of context, but just want to point out that a $27,000 yearly scholarship indeed would be taxable if the student is considered an employee. Right now, an employee may deduct up to $5,250 in tuition reimbursement from his income. If the law doesn't chnge, $23,000+ of that $27,000 would be taxable.

there is still the exception in there but it would mean that the scholarship would have to relate to the sport played.

The new pay-for-play: CFB union could get slammed with tax bill
Hannon cited Sec. 117 of the “Current Internal Revenue Code,” which essentially states that though a “qualified scholarship” is not considered gross income, that can change if the scholarship money “represents payment for teaching, research or other services by the student required as a condition for receiving the qualified scholarship or qualified tuition reduction.”

there you have it in black and white.

they would be taxed.

the other impact of this would be that the college would also have to supply them healthcare as well according to the ACA laws. this whole thing is just going to be a mess.
 
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I'm jumping in here out of context, but just want to point out that a $27,000 yearly scholarship indeed would be taxable if the student is considered an employee. Right now, an employee may deduct up to $5,250 in tuition reimbursement from his income. If the law doesn't chnge, $23,000+ of that $27,000 would be taxable.

Well, I can only go by personal experience of working at a University Hospital and getting a full tuition waiver for school. It was a substantial amount, and none of it was taxable. I was certainly an employee.

The issue is silly, because if these students will become employees, you know the law will allow them to get scholarships or they will be paid an equivalent amount to offset the scholarship cost (compensaion will be 'grossed up').
 
I believe that since the student-athletes have decided they are now a Union, the University should immediately withdraw all scholarships, reinstate full tuition costs, full costs for books, full cost for meals, full cost for housing. And since they are now employees, they should also have to pay for their extraneous costs like sideline snacks and beverages as well as access to athletic trainers. Let the games begin. A FEW may warrant pay...all will suffer.

Oh...and BTW...

Northwestern Football... :lamo

(edit-Oh...and good point...say goodbye to admission standards waivers for student athletes)
 
This will only serve to make college more unaffordable for the poor and minorities and turn schools into a lilly white bastion of homogeny.

Athletics has an amazing way of diversifying a school and getting people of different backgrounds and ethnicities to come together. It's like nothing else.

Those that have played team sports in high school and beyond understand this well.

Unionizing college athletics will make them impractical for the majority of colleges and universities in the country.
 
where did i say that poor kids aren't smart quote me or stop strawmaning.

if the poor kids has academic ability then he can get educational scholarships.

exactly what you think is a strawman but that is all you have against the facts that you can't address.

that is in-state tuition most kids that play sports come from other states. which means they get charged the out of state rate..

I posted the IRS guidelines that says you are wrong you keep ignoring it. so the only one clinging to fantasy here is you.
if these students are going to be considered employee's then their scholarships under IRS guidelines are only non-taxable if they relate to their degree.

i even copied and posted you the IRS CODE itself you ignored it. why is that?

also tell me what does a RB or QB position relate to a business major or computer science major or accounting major or any other major except physical education?

Do you think college scholarships are unlimited? Every dollar you give to a basketball player who can barely pass high school you take away from an academically gifted poor student.

And the scholarship thing is a red herring. It wont ever apply because its nonsensical to make a low grade D1 student pay money when you give him a free ride. Thats a fixable glitch, if it even is a glitch.
 
I believe that since the student-athletes have decided they are now a Union, the University should immediately withdraw all scholarships, reinstate full tuition costs, full costs for books, full cost for meals, full cost for housing. And since they are now employees, they should also have to pay for their extraneous costs like sideline snacks and beverages as well as access to athletic trainers. Let the games begin. A FEW may warrant pay...all will suffer.

Oh...and BTW...

Northwestern Football... :lamo

(edit-Oh...and good point...say goodbye to admission standards waivers for student athletes)

I never thought I would agree with a post of yours.

But I'm all in on this one.
 
Well, I can only go by personal experience of working at a University Hospital and getting a full tuition waiver for school. It was a substantial amount, and none of it was taxable. I was certainly an employee.

The issue is silly, because if these students will become employees, you know the law will allow them to get scholarships or they will be paid an equivalent amount to offset the scholarship cost (compensaion will be 'grossed up').

And who gets to pay that bill?
 
Well, I can only go by personal experience of working at a University Hospital and getting a full tuition waiver for school. It was a substantial amount, and none of it was taxable. I was certainly an employee.

The issue is silly, because if these students will become employees, you know the law will allow them to get scholarships or they will be paid an equivalent amount to offset the scholarship cost (compensaion will be 'grossed up').

I think you snuck under the radar. The IRS guidelines are quite clear.

If you receive educational assistance benefits from your employer under an educational assistance program, you can exclude up to $5,250 of those benefits each year. This means your employer should not include those benefits with your wages, tips, and other compensation shown in box 1 of your Form W-2. This also means that you do not have to include the benefits on your income tax return.

Publication 970 (2013), Tax Benefits for Education
 
Do you think college scholarships are unlimited? Every dollar you give to a basketball player who can barely pass high school you take away from an academically gifted poor student.

This is nonsense. An academically gifted poor student is on a scholarship or grant. If not, they're not trying, especially if they're a minority.
 
Oh. So you believe that college scholarships are unlimited too.

Not unlimited, but certainly a lot more numerous than they're about to be with this ruling.
 
The athletes have said they're seeking better medical coverage, concussion testing, four-year scholarships and the possibility of being paid.
is that such a bad thing
that now they get to have a seat at the table when these issues are being discussed

this was quite telling:
About 15% of men's football, baseball and basketball players said they would have had different majors had they not been athletes. Twelve percent of Division I football players said athletics prevented them from majoring in what they wanted. The average time spent on athletics in-season hovered around 40 hours per week for all three sports, according to the survey.
That flies in the face of the NCAA 20-hour rule, which states that, no matter the sport, coaches can't take up more than 20 hours of their players' time.
40 hours a week. not even part-time

i hope the players are able to do a couple of other things not stated thus far
1. effect third party arbitration of the player-school issues not solved thru negotiation/mediation; and
2. eliminate the 'reserve clause' provision which keeps student athletes from changing schools
those two things certainly helped the major league baseball players
 
is that such a bad thing
that now they get to have a seat at the table when these issues are being discussed

this was quite telling:

40 hours a week. not even part-time

i hope the players are able to do a couple of other things not stated thus far
1. effect third party arbitration of the player-school issues not solved thru negotiation/mediation; and
2. eliminate the 'reserve clause' provision which keeps student athletes from changing schools
those two things certainly helped the major league baseball players

So does the center back on the women's soccer team make as much as the quarterback of the Alabama football team?
 
So does the center back on the women's soccer team make as much as the quarterback of the Alabama football team?

we will learn after the contract negotiations have concluded

in your opinion, does one deserve a larger stipend than the other ... and why?
 
Re: NLRB rules NW University footballers can unionize

"Show me the money" this is Chicago union gangsters with the court in their pockets. It is for the illiterates in college for one reason -to play sports. An 18 year old gets injured in his freshman year and collects a cool 10,000,000. Stop screaming about college revenues until you declare the universities do not offer the best places to GET AN EDUCATION. Student first athelete second. If the college kids have it so bad why are lying, cheating and stealng to get in to play sports?You go to higher education in order to learn in order to earn a better income, not stagger in to "show me the money" This is a disgrace!!!.
 
Do you think college scholarships are unlimited? Every dollar you give to a basketball player who can barely pass high school you take away from an academically gifted poor student.

And the scholarship thing is a red herring. It wont ever apply because its nonsensical to make a low grade D1 student pay money when you give him a free ride. Thats a fixable glitch, if it even is a glitch.

no it doesn't that is where you are so wrong. athletic scholarships come from that evil revenue that college generate. in fact all athletic scholarships come from that money.
it has nothing to do with educational funding.

you don't know what you are talking about.

it does apply see the IRS code that you have ignored for 4 times now. the IRS says you are wrong.
they are not students they would be considered employee's. which means any money received is considered income under IRS guidelines.
 
we will learn after the contract negotiations have concluded

in your opinion, does one deserve a larger stipend than the other ... and why?

since football basically funds the soccer team and the soccer team brings in either 0 revenue or negative revenue there is no reason that a soccer player should get more or even equal to a football player.

actually colleges will drop all non-revenue generating sports. which would be soccer, field hockey, soccer, tennis, etc...
if title XI won't let them then they will just drop all scholarships all together.
 
we will learn after the contract negotiations have concluded

in your opinion, does one deserve a larger stipend than the other ... and why?

No, so now universities won't be able to afford a swim team, soccer team, golf team, water polo team, tennis team, softball team, baseball team, etc, etc, etc.

That is, unless tuitions are raised to pay these athletes. Or taxes, for state schools.

The implications on this are incredibly far reaching, and the forethought on this is ridiculously naïve. Athletics actually keep school more affordable for everyone at state schools.

And are you ready for the bidding war for high school players? It'll be insane. And what will that do to high school athletics? Will high school football coaches now make $300,000 a year because of their track record of "earning" big salaries for their athletes in college?

Domino after domino will fall. You don't just switch amateur athletics to professional without a massive shift in the whole collegiate system.
 
no it doesn't that is where you are so wrong. athletic scholarships come from that evil revenue that college generate. in fact all athletic scholarships come from that money.
it has nothing to do with educational funding.

you don't know what you are talking about.

it does apply see the IRS code that you have ignored for 4 times now. the IRS says you are wrong.
they are not students they would be considered employee's. which means any money received is considered income under IRS guidelines.

Athletic scholarships ALL come from revenue? Really? What about all the schools that get little to no revenue from sports - which is the majority of them.

I guess you are entitled to your opinion, but just making stuff up about scholarships doesnt really count as opinion... no matter how much you want it to be true.

And again... the law may read that scholarships are taxable now (although I bet its not that clear), but if the athletes are actual employees, the NCAA will negotiate that with the players. Thats a 'sky is falling' argument.
 
since football basically funds the soccer team and the soccer team brings in either 0 revenue or negative revenue there is no reason that a soccer player should get more or even equal to a football player.

actually colleges will drop all non-revenue generating sports. which would be soccer, field hockey, soccer, tennis, etc...
if title XI won't let them then they will just drop all scholarships all together.

Then how will universities compete for the top recruits? Boosters, of course, and their nefarious ways will suddenly become fully legal.

And how many athletes can T. Boone Pickens buy if allowed to at Oklahoma State? What about Phil Knight at Oregon?
 
Athletic scholarships ALL come from revenue? Really? What about all the schools that get little to no revenue from sports - which is the majority of them.
I guess you are entitled to your opinion, but just making stuff up about scholarships doesnt really count as opinion... no matter how much you want it to be true.

And again... the law may read that scholarships are taxable now (although I bet its not that clear), but if the athletes are actual employees, the NCAA will negotiate that with the players. Thats a 'sky is falling' argument.

This is just false. The majority of universities make good money off their football and men's basketball teams, and some other sports break even or come close.

You seem to wish that was true, but it isn't.

However, opening up this can of worms will certainly make athletics unprofitable for the majority of schools, and they'll simply drop them altogether.
 
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