We've all seen them: college scouts at FHS sporting events, watching the standout players. They've been noticed at hockey games, football games, soccer games, and other sports too. Colleges are often after that one player who they feel can have the most impact on their team and have met some success at high schools across the country.

Recently, however, competition between colleges for prospective players has spurned a rather large controversy. Universities looking to further their reputation as a "big sports school" have added many amenities to their campuses, amenities geared toward attracting new recruits and keeping current players comfortable. Some people may argue that student athletes bring recognition to a school and attract more students, but it is wrong for these athletes to receive preferential treatment and have special facilities while their fellow students are forced to cram together in 40-year-old dorm rooms. At UCONN, home of the 1999 NCAA men's basketball champions, for example, a new dormitory for student athletes was recently completed and opened. One student that isn't involved in sports commented that the new dorm is "nicer than my house."

Another problem associated with this issue is the fact that athletes lured by the physical amenities the school has to offer may not be attending for the right reasons. A student may like the Cable TV system at one school better than another. Also, smaller colleges that lack the funding to provide special treatment for athletes are missing out on attracting students who would otherwise have chosen that school for its academic program. Sometimes, athletes may get awarded a scholarship based on athletic ability alone, meaning that a student that might have otherwise gotten in based on academic merit would not be able to attend.