2003/2004
"R.I.P.R.P."
by Vorfeed
I'm going to be blunt in this article, and I'm going to say some things that will no doubt shock and offend. However, I think that there are others who share my sentiments, and someone has to say something. We can't stay silent for the sake of being politically correct or "sensitive." It is through discussion of such touchy subjects that we reach greater understanding and tolerance.
This article is about the preferential treatment of athletes, and sadly, it was triggered by the tragic death of Ryan Powell.
I've recieved some e-mails about this topic from friends of Ryan. I'd like to clarify that I am in no way trying to imply that athleticism was Ryan's best or only quality, or that the friends, family, and teachers who cared for him most though the same. I am not against athletes- I am against the way they are treated by the school and press, their athletic acheivements being put upon a pedestal as if it were all that mattered. I am all for recognizing achievement, but when it seems to outsiders like it's the most important part of an individual, I become angered. I don't think it's fair to the athletes.
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In case you were either living under a rock last year or did not go to PFHS at the time, Ryan Powell was a sophomore who died in a dirt bike accident near the end of the school year. The days of grieving to come were expected and needed for many, but after faculty and media started making comments, some started to get a strange feeling. It is only natural for the death of a student to affect most of those who knew him or her, and judging by the student body's reaction, Ryan was well-liked by quite a bit of people. A dozen or so students roamed the halls and commons between classes with jars of change, asking for money for Ryan's family. Banners and signs covered some more-frequented hallways, and Ryan's locker became a sort of miniature shrine, complete with flowers and poems.
Some had the impression that one of the major reasons Ryan was recieving so much attention was because he was a star wrestler. In a Spokesman-Review article, faculty members remembered Ryan not for being who he was, but for bringing glory to the school. Mr. Amende, Ryan's coach, said Ryan was "worthy of a lot of recognition" and "did things that were memorable." Superintendent Keane also remembered Ryan because of his wrestling performance (1).
It appears that even if athletes are well-rounded individuals, they are still only known for their athleticism. It becomes their identity. What would the faculty have to say of a shy student with exemplary grades who was not involved in any extracurricular activities? Would they even know who that student was? This should enrage not just those shy students, but the athletes themselves. Do the athletes really want their identities- their entire beings -to be centered on their athleticism? The school is sending a terrible example to students by glorifying athletes; very few high school athletes make it to the college varsity level, and an even more miniscule number go professional. Do schools really believe they are doing the best thing by setting students up for disappointment when they became completely focused on athletics? Participating in sports is a healthy and fun activity for many, but we must keep our perspective and remember that it's just a game. This cannot be stressed enough. One would believe that adults would be the first to recognize this, but instead, they are glorifying athletes as "heroes" when all the athletes have done is win a game (which just happens to give the school good press).
Ryan Powell's death was tragic and sad, but perhaps what was even more sad was his identity being linked to his athleticism. The days after his death had many non-athletic students silently wondering what would happen if they happened to die- would people come to their families' aid? What would the administrators, who did not know anything about the students in question, say? Hopefully we will not have to find out.
Source
1) http://www.spokesmanreview.com/idaho/story.asp?ID=7746