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I think a lot of this depends on the University. I was friends with many athletes when I was at Miami University. One of my good friends, who I always had classes, was a football player with an MIS/Accounting double major, which is not the most easy thing to double major in! He always went to class, always did the work, and either turned it in on time or turned it in early if he was going to miss class for an away game. I had a ton of friends that walked-on to different athletic teams, so they were there initially for the education. A few of my close friends were on the synchro-skating team and often had to go to Europe for weeks at a time. Now they had to miss class, but they always received work in advance from their professors to take with them on their trips. Now these students did get some perks: tutors, a brand new work-out facility, among other things. What I think pissed everyone else off the most was that they got to schedule their classes a day earlier than everyone else to coordinate it around their class schedule
In regards to thier missing classes, I don't think they missed any more than I did, and I was just not going because I didn't feel like it. They were missing class for a legitimate excuse, one that publicized Miami very well (usually, aside from the Marshall incident earlier this year, which I still think we were robbed of that win!). Not many people heard of Miami University outside of the Midwest. I know in Boston, people always assumed I would be in Florida. But during my freshman year the men's basketball time made it to the Sweet 16 and the amount of people applying broke records. Miami was starting to get known nationally, which would also help bring money into the school. So I don't think it's all that horrible of a thing if they get some special attention for being an athlete.
Allright, I think it's time for me to shut up now....
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