Students react to Bowen's talk on athlete admissions

Last Thursday's talk by former University President William Bowen GS '58 on athletics in higher education has sparked varied response from Princeton student-athletes.

Bowen argues that recruited Ivy athletes enter college with "weaker credentials and tend to underperform academically, [and] increasingly they are seen on campuses as a group apart from their classmates."

He also claims that recruited athletes enjoy an admissions advantage over their nonathletic peers, resulting in schools having to turn away many talented students.

Flyers in student mailboxes and a recent article in The Daily Princetonian about Bowen's book incited many student-athletes to attend Bowen's talk.

"I liked the hype for the event — it allowed me to debate the issue with my eating club and roommates," said Kate Reid '04, a Wilson School major and runner on the women's varsity cross-country team.

Reid said she is "seriously offended by Bowen's findings" and like many other athletes, finds Bowen's argument to be biased and unconvincing.

"I do not believe that a capella groups, eating club officers, 'Prince' editors and USG officials have a smaller proportion of students underperforming academically than athletic teams," Reid said.

Alexis Tingan '05, a member of the men's varsity track team, said, "Bowen's statistics are valid but are interpreted in a way that incriminates coaches, athletes and teachers."

Support nonprofit student journalism. Donate to the ‘Prince’. Donate now »

Chanel Lattimer '05, a Varsity Student-Athletic Committee and women's varsity track team member, said she did not appreciate Bowen's generalizations about athletes.

"A lot of my friends are not athletes, and it is natural for athletes to spend time with their teammates because of the time commitment," she said.

Instead of accepting a scholarship at Wake Forest University, Lattimer decided to attend Princeton because of its academic reputation. She is a member of the a capella group Culturally Yours and serves as food chair of Campus Club.

Many athletes agree that because of their large time obligations, academic underperformance is inevitable. Lattimer said, "Other activities are a lot different than a sport which is physically taxing."

Get the best of the ‘Prince’ delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe now »

In addition, several students questioned the issue's relevance to Princeton, where most athletes do not pursue their sport professionally. Lattimer said, "95 percent of athletes are here primarily for academics."

Economics professor Elizabeth Bogan, who attended Bowen's talk, said she is uncertain about the broad statement that recruited athletes are not great students.

"I have so many athletes who have been outstanding students, and three of the last four departmental award winners were varsity athletes," Bogan said.

Bogan and Reid agreed that it is unfair to give away University admission spots to people who are less deserving. Though this problem is small at Princeton, it should still be addressed, Bogan said.

Many athletes were glad they attended the event and left feeling less upset about Bowen's findings.

Lattimer said, "Even though some athletes may underperform academically, they still walk out of Princeton gate with a degree and do the same amount of work to get it."