College Athletes Shouldn’t Have to Work for Free
Dear Bay Weekly:
Amy Mulligan’s piece on the closing of Cole Field House [Reflection, Vol. X No. 10, March 7-13] was a great perspective and one I did not see in the coverage in The Sun and Washington Post. The replacing of Cole Field House by the Comcast Center is about one thing, money, and it is the best argument for why college basketball players should get compensation.
The University of Maryland now has a building that mints money, and they have a product where the producers work for free. What a great position to be in. Others argue that a “free education” is enough incentive. But with practice, workouts, travel and games, how much of this education can really be accessed?
My solution: Athletes who play three or more years at an institution should be allowed to earn a bachelor degree at that institution for free at any time. Second, upon receiving that degree, the athlete should be eligible for some sort of financial compensation. Finally, the athlete should receive some sort of stipend.
— Christopher Heagy, Cape St. Claire
Praise for Volvo Ocean Race Story …
Dear Bay Weekly:
Thanks for the delightful article about the Volvo Ocean Race [“From Ocean to Bay, the Volvo Ocean Race is Coming Our Way”: Vol. X, No. 10, March 7-13]. I thought it exceptionally well done.
— Lucia Atlas, Annapolis
… But There’s More to Tell
Dear Bay Weekly:
I enjoyed the article about the Volvo Ocean Race. I’m working with Team Tyco and wanted to let you know that there are two more Annapolis residents and former Chessie Racing teammates sailing in the race. Jonathan Swain is a helmsman, trimmer, rigger and medic, and Grant ‘Fuzz’ Spanhake is the sail designer for Team Tyco. Grant had been part of the shore team, but just stepped onboard for the leg from Brazil to Miami.
— Amy Gaag, Baltimore: Weber Shandwick Worldwide
Seeking Tree Stories
Dear Bay Weekly:
Would you please ask your readers help?
If readers have a story about a tree that has had an impact on their life, I hope they’ll let me know.
I am in a college environmental ethics class and am compiling stories from people across the country that had a tree in their life that meant something to them.
Post stories by May 9 on my Internet site, where they will be added for visitors to view. They need not have a name or an e-mail address, and they will not be published for sale.
— Tony Martin, angelfire.com/oh5/treestory2002
Writer Needs Readers’ Help
Dear Bay Weekly Readers:
I am researching a story about conflict resolution between humans and animals. If you have any interesting stories to tell regarding personal encounters with small or large mammals, birds or reptiles of the Chesapeake Bay region, please email me at [email protected].
Sincerely,
— Martha Blume, Arnold
We welcome your letters and opinions. We will edit when necessary. Include your name, address and phone number for verification. Mail them to Bay Weekly, P.O. Box 358, Deale, MD 20751 • E-mail them to us at [email protected].
