I’m writing this to address an issue that has been bothering me throughout most of the semester. I came to Oberlin College naively expecting it to be a utopian paradise, full of liberal, free thinking, non-discriminatory people among whom I could grow into a complete person. I was thoroughly impressed with the Oberlin academics, musical programs and public activism, among many other things. As expected, I found the student body to be an intelligent group open to many different ideas and experiences.

However, I was surprised to notice one general prejudice that a large number of the students hold: their animosity towards athletes, especially the football players and the athletic program in general. Sometimes I feel that to be an Obie-athlete on this campus can be one of the most uncomfortable positions possible unless you are a neo-Nazi or a Republican.

I’m not quite sure why this is. Perhaps the problem lies in previous encounters with athletes that lead some Obies to have predisposed contempt towards them. Whatever the reason, throughout my first semester here I have heard people making cynical remarks and sarcastic jokes about athletes. I have heard stories from friends who get nasty looks when wearing their athletic apparel around campus. Also, I’ve noticed flagrant anti-athlete propaganda in the Oberlin publications. I recall an issue of the Grape in which a forum was posted on the general campus population’s opinions of athletes. With the exception of a few neutral, apathetic remarks, most were negative.

In the Dec. 12, 2003 issue of the Review, a story was written about two Oberlin students who harassed a visiting professor. I noticed that throughout the article the offenders were referred to as “two football players” rather than “two Oberlin students” or even “two Oberlin athletes.” The article subtly made inferences about their intelligence when stating that the offenders had told the Japanese professor “to go back to China.” To my understanding the story was based on hearsay and no Review journalist was present at the party.

Recently, a Grape editor commented in an issue of Scene magazine that she felt that the growth of the athletic program would hurt Oberlin in the long run. In her opinion, liberal students who are serious about academics, such as herself, would not want to attend a college looking to improve its athletic program.

This statement infers a number of presumptuous and offensive things. One is that students such as herself are more important to Oberlin College than student athletes. Second, she presumes that most Oberlin prospective students share her views. Third, she pigeonholes athletes into the typical jock category because there is no way an athlete could also be a “pissed off, liberal, serious about academics student” at Oberlin College.

The stereotypical notion of the jock on this campus is quite unfounded. Most athletes are not dumb, testosterone-filled barbarians who slug it out on the field, grid iron or track and only live to participate in their respective sports. Quite the contrary, most Obie-athletes participate in a plethora of activities other than their sports. Also, not all athletes spend the majority of their free time binge drinking copious amounts of alcohol to the barbaric chanting of “Chug, chug, chug.” In actuality many athletes are very conscious of their alcohol consumption when they are in season in order to maintain health and fitness.

Everyone who attends this College made a conscious choice to do so. I personally did not come to school here solely to participate in athletics. Had I wanted to do so, I would have attended Syracuse University or one of the other Division I schools to which I was accepted, and I would have walked onto one of their track teams. Instead, I chose Oberlin because of the academic pursuits, social experiences and political lessons it would afford me.

Historically, athletics have been promoted among most cultures for their ability to obtain both mental and psychical well being. Eastern philosophical thought and meditation goes hand and hand with a rigorous exercise routine. Alexander the Great, in addition to being a philosopher and a military genius, was also an excellent athlete who spent his childhood playing sports. Prior to becoming president, Abraham Lincoln spent his teenage years wrestling competitively. This leads me to ask the question: why is the Renaissance man no longer respected? Should not a person be commended for participating and excelling in a number of academic ventures, artistic and/or musical talents, as well as athletic activities?

I feel the discipline that an athlete has is lost upon most of this campus. Athletes work very hard in the classroom as well as at their sports. Sports are very time consuming and Obie-athletes have to make personal sacrifices to make time for their activities.

It is this kind of work ethic Obie-athletes have that they contribute to the classroom. After all, Conservatory students are respected for spending many arduous hours perfecting their craft. Why should athletes be any less respected? In fact, an athlete cannot major in his or her passion like a dance major, theater major or Conservatory student can. And for all the hard work we put in, time and time again we look up into empty stands and have to endure coy remarks and ridicule. Is it so bad to want others to see the fruits of our labors?

Let’s face it, athletes are here and when we are not garbed in our sports apparel we actually appear to be normal. You may have had a conversation with one, the person next to you in the crowd protesting for a worthy cause or the kid in front of you in your neuroscience class might be one. We might even live down the hall or next door to you. We are people just like you. We are students just like you and we are students first. I fail to see why there is such division between Obies and Obie-athletes. I’m just sorry to see that even in a place like Oberlin, discovering new areas of knowledge and being involved in many things is valued and athletics is not.

Essay by Quentin Jones